MALANTI REKINDLE SURVIVAL HOPES

PIGG’S PEAK – Malanti Chiefs bounced back to winning ways yesterday in their quest to survive relegation in the MTN Premier League.

Goals from Zweli Fakudze and Felisberto Bocuane were enough to hand them the three points that saw them moving up from the basement to second from bottom of the log. They now have 18 points, same as Denver Sundowns but below due to their inferior goal difference. Mhlume Peacemakers who beat Malanti Chiefs 2-1 last Sunday are now back at the rock bottom of the log table with 16 points and have played more games. It was Tambuti that started the game on a high, giving Malanti Chiefs a tough time in the opening minutes. Their first scoring chance came 10 minutes into the game when a free kick from 25 yards was saved by Colani Mngometulu, who returned after he missed the past two games.

Rebound

Malanti’s Captain Sifiso Makhubu could not believe it when he failed to finish off from the rebound after goalkeeper Mlungisi Nxumalo had parried a shot from Thokozani Khanyile. Malanti’s Zweli Fakudze and Myalo Gwebu were all guilty as they failed to score when chances came their way, with hard working Sifiso Mazibuko delivering crosses time and again. With two minutes remaining before the break, Mazibuko’s cross was met by Zweli Fakudze, who controlled and drove a powerful shot that beat goalkeeper Mlungisi Nxumalo to take the lead. In the second half, the host team started with confidence as Tambuti’s Siboniso Shiba cleared the ball from the line after a scramble in the 18-area. In the last 20 minutes of the game, Malanti were put under pressure and Tambuti attacked from all angles but they could not find the back of the net. Malanti’s defenders were forced to work under pressure protecting the lone goal.

Danger

Sensing danger, Malanti’s coaches Ray Dlamini and Christopher Tembo brought in Mozambican striker Felisberto Bocuane who netted against the run of play in added time, scoring his eighth goal of the season. The win brought a huge smile to Malanti’s technical bench as they will be hoping to build on from this match when they face Denver Sundowns in a thrilling battle of relegation at KaLanga Technical Centre next Wednesday with kick off at 11am.

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