Africa-Press – Eswatini. Green Mamba reduced Mbabane Swallows to shreds with a 4-1 win in an intense MTN Premier League match played here yesterday.
The Correctional Services side completed a double over the red and white capital city giants in less than a month after they humiliated them 6-0 in the finals of the 2023 Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) Trade Fair Cup, which was played at the Mavuso Sports Centre. It was a perfect win for Inyoka eluhlazane after they shockingly lost their second match to Madlenya last weekend. Umkhonto KaShaka suffered their first defeat of the season after a good start in the campaign as they beat Rangers 2-1. Green Mamba welcomed back most of their stars, who missed the previous match due to suspension. It was the Ernest Mavuso-led side, which made their intentions known just 21 minutes into the game when midfield king-pin Njabulo ‘D4D’ Ndlovu’s half volley inside the box missed the target. He eventually broke the deadlock four minutes later as he curled the ball into the far post, leaving Swallows goalkeeper Sandanezwe Mathabela sprawled on the artificial turf.
Caleb Ngwenya’s charges restored parity 10 minutes later through Sizolwethu ‘Nunu’ Shabalala. The national team Sihlangu attacking midfielder drove the ball into the net from a forest of legs inside the box, this was after Green Mamba failed to clear a harmless corner. Swallows’ joy was short-lived as Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa’s free header beat Mathabela between the sticks. He connected beautifully a gift-wrapped cross from right back Colani Dlamini. The sides went for a breather with the visitors enjoying the 2-1 slender lead. ‘Sikhali’ grabbed his brace three minutes into the second stanza, after Swallows defence failed to deal with a cross from Njabulo ‘Magwegwe’ Magagula to channel the ball behind Mathabela to make it 3-1.
Seeing that the game was slipping away, Swallows gaffer rested ‘Nunu’ and Mancoba ‘Nciba’ Vilakati for Siyabonga ‘Siya’ Zwane and Sifiso ‘Mr. Cool’ Mabila, respectively.
‘D4D’ nearly grabbed his own brace as his scorcher outside the box narrowly missed the target, with Mathabela well beaten between the sticks. It was substitute Kwenzokuhle Khumalo, who hit the final nail in Swallows’ coffin at the stroke of full time from a cracker, which stunned Mathabela.Referee Thulani Sibandze blew his final whistle to confirm the reigning champions as the winners of this high intense tie.
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