CLASSY PIRATES JUMP TO 3RD SPOT

(At Somhlolo National Stadium)

Sea Birds.................. (0)0
Pirates....................... (0)2
Mopina 50th, ‘Shumi’ 63rd

LOBAMBA – Revamped Moneni Pirates are back to winning ways at the expense of hoodoo side Manzini Sea Birds. After a 1-all draw with Milling Hot Spurs in the last outing, the Moneni ‘Buccaneers’ needed a response when they visited the unpredictable neighbours at a wet Somhlolo National Stadium in yesterday’s MTN Premier League clash.

Two second half goals by Fabrice Mopina and Lwazi ‘Shumi’ Mamba ensured Gcina ‘Magiyane’ Dlamini’s men kept up with the ‘big boys’, as they moved a place up the chart to occupy the third spot.

 rivetting

They had more reasons to be merry, as their record against Sea Birds did not make for rivetting reading heading into this fixture. Five of the last eight league meetings had been won by ‘Izinyoni Zolwandle’, as Sea Birds are widely known.
Yesterday’s result, on the other hand, was like a stab in the heart for Sea Birds, as they had nothing to show for their promising display after doing enough to at least get a point.

Former Mbabane Highlanders skipper Xolani ‘Chocco’ Sibandze was among the players who did most of the probing for Sea Birds.
During the opening period, the teams were evenly matched, with Pirates struggling to string their usual neat passes on the wet turf. Just before the break, ‘Chocco’ saw his long range effort parried to safety by goalkeeper Romanus Igidimba. The teams were level-pegging during the interval.

disaster

Just when Sea Birds were trying to engage the second gear on resumption of play, disaster struck.
Mopina found an opening in the box after ‘Shumi’ did all the spadework and shook off trusted defender Sibusiso Dlamini before turning to beat goalkeeper Lindani Mtsetfwa with a thunderous strike in the 50th minute. 
As the game progressed, rain started to bucket down the turf and Sea Birds saw their chances of a comeback slowly getting washed away.
From a quick attack, ‘Shumi’ peeled off the defence to beat the advancing goalkeeper with a long range effort while doubling the visitors’ advantage in the 63rd minute. 

Sea Birds had tried to respond, but there was no breathing space for forward Muzi Tsabedze, who was submerged upfront.
Veteran forward Wandile Nhleko of Sea Birds had managed to find an opening 20 minutes from time only to fire wide from close range.

Pirates, who boasted the biggest contingent of supporters at the nearly-empty stadium, tightened their backdoor to grind out the big win on the road. It is a boost ahead of their tough test against Young Buffaloes.
For Sea Birds, who are third from the bottom, it is back to the drawing board, as they have to respond at Milling Hot Spurs.

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