Africa-Press – Eswatini. Capital city giants Mbabane Highlanders and police side Royal Leopard shared the spoils in an entertaining 1-all draw at Mavuso Sports Centre yesterday.
This was an end-to-end affair which had fans of both teams sitting at the edge of their seats.
Leopard threatened first through captain Muzi ‘Mzoro’ Dlamini, who has a knack for scoring against Highlanders. Junior Magagula won back possession in Highlanders’ half before quickly playing a top-notch cross into the visitors’ box and Mrozo’s glancing header went wide off the target with goalkeeper Khanyakwezwe Shabalala rooted to the ground.
The ‘Black Bull’ then took control of the match and they nearly gifted a goal when Kwadwo Frimpong pressed keeper Ncamiso ‘Mbhonyo’ Dlamini whose shot deflected off the Bull striker and the ball missed the right upright.
Philani Mkhonto then hit the side-net after being set up by Banele ‘Pupu’ Sikhondze as pressure mounted on Ingwemabalabala. It was, however, Leopard who scored first via the boot of ‘Mzoro’ in the 17th minute.
Leopard generally looked the more fluid and organised team, though Highlanders blew a great chance to level the game in the 24th minute as Mkhonto’s cross from the left found Frimpong arriving at the back post, but the striker headed his effort down into the ground and saw it bounce up and over the target.
The visitors gained more confidence as the half wore on, with Mkhonto finding the equaliser in the 27th minute, after he received a good pass from ‘Pupu’.
The teams continued to come hard at each other but the match went to break level.
The second half was a replica of the first stanza in terms of the flow of the game and Highlanders started to find their rhythm as the game progressed, and enjoyed much of the ball possession while looking for a second goal.
Leopard did not take it lying down and almost found the breakthrough in the 63rd minute through striker Felix Hnusugbo, but he was kept out of danger by Highlanders goalkeeper Khanyakwezwe.
Both teams struggled to create clear-cut chances through what remained of the game, as Ingwemabalabala were all over Highlanders in the last 10 minutes, but they just couldn’t find the back of the net.
At the other end, Mkhonto was trying his best to create some magic with his speed and skills, but he just couldn’t find a clear path through the Leopard’s defence. The contest remained finely poised heading into the closing stages, and despite a couple of late half-chances, there was ultimately nothing to separate the two sides.
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