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(At Mavuso Sports Centre)
Amawele ...................(0)0
Highlanders ..............(1)1
‘Shoes’ 8th
MANZINI – Mbabane Highlanders dug deep in the scorching heat at Mavuso Sports Centre yesterday, grinding out a vital 1-0 victory over newcomers Amawele.
The result in the MTN Premier League clash kept Highlanders’ hopes of a dominant season alive.In their first-ever top-flight meeting played before an animated crowd of over 1 000, Highlanders showed the steel required of title contenders, despite a lacklustre second-half performance, thanks to a clinical finish from Ayanda ‘Shoes’ Mabuza inside the opening eight minutes.
The fixture, played in oppressive conditions, began with a moment of silence for the late former Sihlangu Captain Jerome Ntshalintshali. Once play resumed, it was the visitors, Highlanders, who wasted no time asserting their authority. Stylish playmaker S’phiwe Cele capitalised on a lapse in the Amawele defence, gliding past his marker before setting up Mabuza, the former Nsingizini star, for the simplest of close-range taps in.
Despite trailing, Amawele, who also came into clash with three points, showed moments of promise, finding pockets of space, but consistently lacking the necessary venom to punish a stuttering Highlanders defensive line.
Their best first-half moment came in the 35th minute when their impressive import, Fredrick Asante, made a crucial, goal-saving tackle to stop a goal-bound shot from Siyabonga Mkhonto. The narrow lead stood as the teams retreated for the break.
The second-half brought a renewed, more aggressive Amawele side. Former Mbabane Highlanders striker Sibusiso Tfwala was immediately introduced and quickly found an opening in the 48th minute, only to shoot disappointingly wide from close range.
Full article available in our publication.
Mbabane Highlanders’ AM President Shauwn Mkhize with her son Andile Mpisane, players and officials as they sing to fans following a narrow 1–0 win over Amawele at Mavuso Sports Centre. (Pic: Sanele Jele)