Home | Sports | LEOPARD, ‘BULL’ NOW IN 2-HORSE RACE!

LEOPARD, ‘BULL’ NOW IN 2-HORSE RACE!

30/05/2022 15:10:00 Sanele Jele

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MHLUME – Royal Leopard are closer to defending the MTN Premier League title on top of being a guaranteed spot in continental football next season.

This is after they beat Manzini Wanderers 2-0 at Mhlume Stadium yesterday, courtesy of goals from Junior Magagula and Lungelo Tsabedze, to maintain their two-point lead with a game to spare.

battle

The result further means that they are now have to look over their shoulders by second-placed Mbabane Highlanders in the battle for the top spot. Mbabane Swallows and Young Buffaloes, who had made it a four-horse race, have been shaken off as they will not match Leopard’s 68 points tally.

scored

The police ensemble scored in both halves, to not only maintain the top spot, but to secure a spot in the TOTALEnergies CAF Confederation Cup. With no knockout tournament, the country’s league runners-up qualify for Africa’s second-tier inter-club tournament. The police ensemble who were booted from the CAF Confederation Cup in group stages after they came last in their group will face Young Buffaloes in their last game of the season. ‘Ingwe Mabalabala’ have maintained an unbeaten run in 720 minutes of football. The last time they lost was on April 16, 2022, when they lost 3-2 against Mbabane Swallows who are competing for the Confed Cup spot; they need to beat Highlanders to make this dream a reality.

Coming to the game, despite that on paper the clash looked unpredictable; 20 minutes in, it was clear it was a one sided affair with Leopard dominating the game. Needless to say, the goal was long coming and when it came, it was just about 10 minutes before the half-hour mark. Junior Magagula converted from the spot after Wanderers’ Sibonelo Dlamini handled the ball inside the box. Referee Thembinkosi Dlamini did not hesitate but pointed on the spot. Lungelo Tsabedze and Magagula could have stretched the lead with just five minutes before half time. Tsabedze missed a glorious chance when he was unmarked inside the box. Magagula looped the ball but was saved by second choice goalkeeper Phila Mamba.

In the second half, the hosts continued from where they left off and just two minutes in, they doubled matters. It was through-a tap-in from Tsabedze after he connected a Bongane ‘Ngci’ Ndzimandze cross. The Velekhaya Mthethwa-led charges were close to reducing the deficit but Fabrice Mopina’s volley from close range was saved by Leopard third choice Mlamuli Makhanya in the hour mark. Just 20 minutes before full time,Wanderers’ Thembisa Shabangu also saw his volley from the edge of the box going over the bar when placing a ground shot was the easiest to do.

Bongani Dlamini had a chance to register his name on the scorers chart but the ball volleyed over the bar three yards in when a soft tap-in was the easiest thing to do. Tambankulu Callies product Wandile ‘Shaka’ Simelane had the over 200 hosts fans rose from their stands and clapping after he peeled two defenders but the goalkeeper came out of his line to make a brilliant save at the stroke of full time.