Africa-Press – Eswatini. THEY said they were in it to win it, and indeed they have won it, Insingizi Yezulu!
This is non-other than Shiselweni based ensemble Nsingizini Hotspurs, who beat Mbabane Swallows 5-2 after penalties to defend their MoMo Cup Championship.
It took the dreaded penalty shootouts to decide the match and Hotspurs won them convincingly.
The opening minutes of the final did not disappoint with none of the sides wanting to give up an inch as they hoped to score first.
Swallows’ Felix Badenhorst saw his glancing header go marginally off target in the 10th minute, as the capital city giants began to find their feet and possession.
The missed chance led to another from Nsingizini, on the other end, a minute later with Mayibongwe Mabuza placing wide after a brilliant counter.
Swallows’ Nhlanhla Ngwenya also got a chance but the goalkeeper Sibusiso ‘Baraba’ Dlamini’s quick feet and thinking denied him, with Felix also failing to score from the rebound save.
The defending champions eventually took the lead in the 21st minute through Sinenkhosi ‘China’ Dlamini, who dribbled a defender to calmly beat the keeper Qiniso Nyawo and give his side the lead.
Hotspurs gained a foothold in the match as they continued to search for their second and keep Swallows at bay.
Sizolwethu ‘Nunu’ Shabalala came in just before the break, as Sibusiso ‘Niang’ Masuku was taken off. The match went to the break with Insingizi Yezulu enjoying the lead and a slight advantage.
The ‘Beautiful Birds’ made a double substitution in the second half, bringing in Sandile Hlatjwako for Orion Samba, while Tony ‘Ben 10’ Machacha made way for Siyabonga Zwane.
‘Nunu’ missed a chance to level matters in the 48th minute after a low cross from Zwane.
Neliso ‘Shaka’ Myeni had a chance to double the lead but he missed.
He was made to rue his missed chance as Siyabonga Zwane equalised in the 54thminute. He latched on to a cross from Kwakhe Thwala to bring his side level. The goal gave Birds pep in their step as the capital city giants started to get more chances, with ‘Fela’ trying a few long efforts.
Hotspurs did not panic with the sudden flurry of attacks and kept their shape and composure, absorbing pressure from the opposition.
Fela came close to deciding the match and did everything well besides putting the ball in the back of the net in the 68th.
The last 10 minutes of the match were filled with excitement with the pace of the match going up a notch with both sides looking for the winning goal.
Sandile Hlatjwako flicked a ball in the dying minutes of the match and missed the last chance of the game. The match ended at 1-1 and it went straight to penalties where Nsingizini Hotspurs won.
Nsingizini are back to back champions of the MoMo Cup, which saw them go home E600 000 richer even this year.
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