‘SEA ROBBERS’ EASE RELEGATION WOES

MANZINI – They are three points from safety - that is hub side Moneni Pirates.

After snatching all three points yesterday in a lukewarm MTN Premier League clash with a 2-1 win over Vovovo, they moved one place up to 10th on 31 points and also two points ahead of neighbours Denver Sundowns who lost their match yesterday. Pirates will now only need either a point or three depending on how Milling Hot Spurs played. Winning it for Pirates was Malibongwe Malinga and Sibonelo Simelane. Malinga opened the scoring much against the run of play with a great tap -in from just outside the six yard box. He pounced on a quality low cross curled behind the Vovovo organised defence by veteran Lwazi ‘Shumi’ Mamba to find Malinga unmarked on the far end to beat the goalie Adja Obodoi Innocent with a powerful side footed effort. His goal was cancelled out by a dominant Vovovo 11 minutes later.

After a beautiful build-up play from the back, Bandile Shongwe had easy work when he finished off from the rebound. Pirates goalkeeper Benele Dlamini made a brilliant block from an initial Sibusiso Tfwala volley after right back Simphiwe Makhanya delivered a searching cross into the area. Vovovo could have taken the lead three minutes before half-time, but Simanga Masangane put a free header agonisingly wide with the goalkeeper at sea. The most chances came early but Vovovo’s final touch inside the box was not good enough. Pirates came back hard at them a few minutes from the recess with some mesmerising runs on the ball. Their assistant coach Thembela Dlamini made a half-time change, taking off midfielder Yeki Khumalo for Kazadi Kitwa.

The change proved just the right tonic as it neutralised Vovovo’s dominance at the belly of the park and shook their defence which was winning most balls, particularly Aristo Tamuzi Ntangu who could have easily been man of the match but got a silly red card. He did not agree with referee Mqiniseli Sithole’s decision as he collided with the impressive Mphumuzo Sangweni and decided to retaliate right in front of the referee, shocking the whole stadium and deservedly got sent off in the dying minutes. There was no looking back for Vovovo who nearly conceded a third but Adja brilliant one-handedly punched out man of the match Malinga’s goal bound header. Simelane made it 2-1 after finishing unmarked from a corner kick and his goal was the match winner. Meanwhile, the result dented Vovovo’s chances for fifth place and risked dropping from sixth to seventh.

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