Mkhonto derails 'Ingwe's title hopes

(At Mhlume Stadium)

Sea Birds............(0)1
Mkhonto 80th

R. Leopard........(1) 1
Thikithi 45+2

MHLUME - Manzini Sea Birds’ Philani Mkhonto’s equalising goal has derailed Royal Leopard’s hopes of a winning double this season.

In a thrilling encounter at Mhlume Stadium, Manzini Sea Birds managed to hold the thenlog leaders ahead of match week 25, Royal Leopard, to a 1-all draw, a result that slightly jeopardises Leopard’s title ambitions in the MTN Premier League.

The visitors, Leopard, showed clear intent, determined to extend their two-point lead at the top of the table. However, it was Sea Birds who took the initiative, starting the first half strongly without any goal however.

Meanwhile, an early move in the seventh minute saw Junior Magagula pick out Felix Badenhorst, whose deft chest pass found Banele Shongwe. Unfortunately for Leopard, Shongwe’s shot missed the target, and he was subsequently ruled offside. As the match progressed, Sea Birds attempted to disrupt Leopard’s rhythm with a series of long-range efforts, though none were accurately directed on target.

Their first significant chance came in the 12th minute, when a set-piece on the edge of the box almost bore fruit, but Leopard’s defence cleared the danger with composure. Sea Birds’ Mkhonto, a constant threat, unleashed a powerful shot moments later, only to see it slide narrowly past Mlamuli Makhanya’s goal.

Incident

In the 16th minute, an incident involving Thokozani ‘Thikithi’ Dlamini and Sea Birds’ Mayibongwe ‘Suarez’ Mabuza saw the former briefly sidelined after a collision, but he soon returned to the fray. Dlamini was heavily involved, forcing Sea Birds’ Lindani Mtsetfwa into a remarkable save in the 18th minute with a well-directed effort following a clever pass from Simanga Masangane.

Despite relentless pressure, Royal Leopard’s attempts were met with resistance.

Mtsetfwa once again displayed his goalkeeping prowess in the 27th minute, thwarting Badenhorst’s shot with perfect positioning.

Sea Birds, however, were not to be dismissed, as Muzi Tsabedze created a promising opportunity on the left flank, only for the delivery to be slightly late, preventing Mabuza from tapping in. As the first half drew to a close, frustration mounted for both sides as they found themselves level, but just when it seemed the half would end without goals, Thikithi stepped up.

In added time, he broke the deadlock, giving Royal Leopard a 1-0 lead going into the break.

The second half commenced with Leopard replacing Thikithi with Bongani Ndzimandze in the 52nd minute.  Initial phases were dominated by Leopard, who showcased improved ball circulation. Yet, it was Sea Birds who began to gain momentum, pushing further into the attacking third.

Equalising

Mkhonto came within inches of equalising in the 75th minute, but his effort skimmed the top of the bar. However, he would not be denied for long; in the 80th minute, Mkhonto found himself in the right place at the right time, slotting home to level the match at 1-1 and sending the home crowd into raptures.

In the final minutes, Royal Leopard threw everything they had at Sea Birds in search of a winner, but found themselves thwarted by a resilient defence, while their gaffer, Edwin Matsebula was seen cupping his face in disappointment in the last 10 minutes. As the referee blew the final whistle, the draw carried significant implications, particularly for the visitors, who relinquished their position at the top of the table.

The result saw Sea Birds earn a vital point, while Royal Leopard dropped to second place, behind Nsingizini Hotspurs, who reclaimed the summit following their 2-1 victory in the Shiselweni derby against Rangers. Nsingizini are in the driving seat as far as the league is concerned as they have relegation-threatened side, Sidwashini United as their last fixture, while Royal Leopard have Green Mamba.

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