Africa-Press – Eswatini. AFTER brutal back-to-back defeats in the CAF Confederation Cup, on the local front Royal Leopard is not changing its spots.
The defending MTN Premier League champions clawed their way back to the summit of the log after a hard fought win against Mbabane Highlanders yesterday afternoon at Mavuso Sports Centre, banking the E200 000 ‘carrot’ for being top of the standings halfway through the season in the process.
Goals from each half were enough for Leopard to shrug off Highlanders, who clearly never turned up when it mattered the most despite having a numerical advantage for 35 minutes after the police side’s left back Mancoba Maseko was sent off for an early shower by referee Celumusa Siphepho for a second bookable offence.
In the opening exchanges, Maseko had comically and unwarrantedly handled the ball before a rough challenge on Simphiwe Manana in the 55th minute saw him red carded. Four days ago Highlanders had partied in Ezulwini and possibly they came to this game with a hangover.
With trusted talisman Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa well shackled by the impressive Linda Mbuli, the rest of his team-mates never showed up and the results showed at the end of the 90 minutes.
Kick-off was delayed for 12 minutes to allow the big crowd outside the venue to make their way in as the MTN Premier League witnessed possibly its second biggest attendance since the week 12 Mbabane derby between the same Highlanders and bitter sworn rivals Mbabane Swallows.
Leopard broke the ice in the 24th minute via the boot of Bongani Dlamini. Man of the match Junior Magagula had beautifully interchanged passes with Lungelo Tsabedze on the right side of attack, eliminating four Highlanders defenders in the process before nicely setting up Bongani with a low cross for a simple tap in on the far post.
Junior was back in the thick of things with seven minutes of regulation time remaining, this time to settle the nerves and finish the game as a contest.
Thabiso Mokenkoane brought down a Sifiso Matse ball in the box for Junior to calmly slot past Khanyakwezwe Shabalala.
Following tiring trips in the CAF Confederation Cup, Leopard coach Edwin Matsebula made rotations to save legs for Sunday’s trip back to Mbombela Stadium with the likes of goalscorer Bongani, Ncamiso ‘Mbhonyo’ Dlamini and Barry Steenkamp all returning to the starting line-up.
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