SEA BIRDS DENY NSINGIZINI HOTSPURS TOP SPOT

NHLANGANO – Nsingizini Hotspurs have been denied the top spot after settling for 1-all draw against unbeaten Manzini Sea Birds in an entertaining MTN Premier League match that was played at King Sobhuza II Memorial Stadium yesterday.

A win for the Gerald Phiri’s charges would have steered them to the summit of the charts for the first time this season but the stalemate was still enough to leapfrog Mbabane Swallows, who have since dropped to third. The hosts’ win could have seen them on the same points with current leaders Young Buffaloes, who are on 19. The home team broke the deadlock through defender Pius Baffour after scoring from a Mncedisi Dlamini set piece. Sea Bidrs were on the backfoot in the opening proceedings, with Nsingizini searching for an early goal. Thubelihle Mavuso and Sibusiso Tfwala were seeing a lot of the ball in the hosts’ box.

However, Sea Birds were able to contain Insingizi Yezulu and they looked dangerous on the counterattack. The deadlock was broken in the 15th minute as the home took a lead through defender Baffour, who scored from a curling Mncedisi Dlamini set piece. Sea Birds responded by exerting pressure on Coach Phiri’s side, with Mthokozisi Gwebu forcing goalkeeper Sibusiso into a smart save. The Nsingzini goalkeeper was then beaten at his nearpost in the 40th  minute by Sea Birds captain, Muzi Tsabedze, who levelled matters after being set up by Mkhuleko Magagula.

Sea Birds continued to probe after the restart - bombarding the hosts’ box with crosses as they searched for the target man Mthokozisi, but Ncamiso Thwala and fellow centre back Pius Baffour dealt well with the aerial balls. The Derrick Shiba-led team continued to look dangerous against the run of play with Thubelihle bursting into the visitors’ box before unleashing a shot, which went just over the crossbar. A last-gasp opportunity saw Siphelele Dladla flick his header well wide after being located by Tsabedze from the left, and that turned out to be the last real chance from either side with both teams sharing the spoils. For Sea Birds, the result meant they remain six points adrift of the top spot and kept their unbeaten record intact.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: