CAUSE FOUR CONCERN!

MANZINI – Mbabane Swallows added salt into the wound of relegation-threatened Manzini Wanderers as they thrashed them 4-0 in an MTN Premier League game played here yesterday.

Capital city giants struck three times  in the first stanza and once in the second half to retain their third spot while extending their unbeaten league run to seven games. Caleb Ngwenya’s troops further made five in a row against  the faltering opposition, following a 2-0 win in the reverse fixture. Swallows remain six points shy of log leaders Green Mamba while six points clear of their traditional rivals in Mbabane Highlanders. Meanwhile, the  ‘Weslians’, who are fresh from a 0-5 drubbing by  Denver Sundowns, remained one place above the drop zone as they occupy the 12th spot. It was the visitors who made significant impressions from start of the game, as they  scored inside five minutes into the game. Wanderers were unsettled just four minutes into game as MTN league sharp shooter Felix Badenhorst met a cross on the air from Leon Manyisa to fire home with aplomb while taking his tally for the season to 17.

The ‘Weslians’ were forced to sit back and defend while troubled by muscle pulls for Menzi Mamba and Sihle Mkhonta, who were later all pulled out even without finishing the first 30 minutes. Swallows remained relentless and almost doubled their advantage in the 17th minute, but Bashir Mutanda failed to finish off a rebound from Badenhorst that hit the pole, with Wanderers goalkeeper left sprawled on the turf. In the 23rd minute, former ‘Weslians’ Neliswa ‘Tiger’ Dlamini grabbed the second goal against his former employer which he did not celebrate. He finished off a rebound after an initial shot taken by Mutanda outside the box.

Assistant coach Mpendulo Mawelela, who was in charge of the team on the day as Terrisayi Changara had been relieved from his duties ahead, pulled off Sihle Mkhonta and Menzi Mamba after they seemed to have had problems with  their muscles. With nine minutes to go before the breather, Ayanda Gadlela grabbed another one after he was picked by the advancing Badenhorst into the box. From the restart, Wanderers looked a regrouped side, matching the opponents. They pressed the visitors but lacked cutting-edge. The game could have changed for worse in the 70th when Wanderers goalkeeper Sitali Nyambe was given marching orders by referee Letticia Viana for handling the ball outside the box for a fruitless free kick by Badenhorst, who was hunting for a brace.

paired

Captain fantastic  ‘Mlaba’ stepped up for the team to man poles. Khulekani Fakudze  tried to pull one back in the 77th minute, but saw his effort paired off the bar by goalkeeper Sandanezwe Mathabela for a fruitless corner kick. With five minutes before regular time, Nkambule denied Kwakhe Thwala a goal from a shot that was taken outside the box. He could not manage to, however, maintain a clean sheet between the poles as veteran Wonder ‘Samba Jive’ Nhleko nodded in the last goal in the 93rd minute. Nhleko benefitted from a cross brought by Nhlanhla Ngwenya.

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