(At Sumunye Stadium)
M. Sea Birds..........4
‘Saurez’ 10th, Muzi 12th, ‘Mkasabuli’ 46th, Lindani 51st (OG)
M. Wanderers......0
SIMUNYE – Just a week after a valiant performance that earned them a point; Manzini Wanderers were brought crashing back down to earth yesterday, suffering a shocking and humiliating 4–0 defeat at the hands of city rivals, Manzini Sea Birds.
Sea Birds hammered a Wanderers side that was a mere shadow of the team which secured a 2–2 draw against Mbabane Highlanders in MTN Premier League match a week ago. Friday Myeni’s men scored two goals in each half, with the opening pair coming in quick succession to immediately stun their opponents.
Mayibongwe ‘Suarez’ Mabuza broke the deadlock in just the 10th minute with a scorching effort from the edge of the box, catching the hub-giants’ defence flat-footed.
Before the ‘Weslians’ could recover from the shock deficit, Captain Muzi Tsabedze doubled the lead just two minutes later, pouncing on a pass from Mthokozisi Gwebu to beat goalkeeper Lihle Mhlungu inside the opening quarter of an hour. First-choice shot-stopper, Mario Jamine, was out serving his red card suspension.
The maroon and white outfit’s troubles were rooted in a blunt attack and an ineffective midfield, yet they managed to contain the dominant pink and white ensemble for the remainder of the first half, keeping the score at 2–0 until the break.
Any hopes Wanderers fans harboured for a second-half comeback were instantly extinguished upon resumption. Philani ‘Mkasabuli’ Mkhonto registered Sea Birds’ third goal just a minute after the restart, finally finding the net after being unlucky not to score in the first stanza.
The collapse was completed in the 51st minute when Lindani Msibi’s attempt to clear a Gwebu cross ended in disaster, skewing the ball into his own net. The own goal left Wanderers with no chance of a comeback or salvaging even a point, recording their second Manzini derby loss of the season.
Manzini Sea Birds supporters cheering on their team during the MTN Premier League match against Manzini Wanderers. Sea Birds won 4-0. (Pic: Nimrod Hlophe)