Nyanga magic for ‘Weslians’
MAN OF THE MATCH:
Wanderers ............ 2
Manana 70th, Amos 90+4 Madlenya ............. 1
Thabiso 77th
BABANE – Manzini Wanderers beat Madlenya 2-1 in a dramatic MTN Premier League clash played at Mavuso Sports Centre yesterday.
It was substitute Amos Layode, who was the hero as he scored the winner deep into added time, as he curled a beauty from inside the box which beat Madlenya goalkeeper Mndeni Lukhele hands down between the sticks.
Layode’s goal gave returnee gaffer Nyanga ‘Crooks’ Hlophe a dream start at the maroon and white hub giants as this was his first match in charge as he gave Wanderers players a moral boost in their quest to move away from the dreaded relegation axe.
The teams failed to make meaningful scoring chances in the first stanza as they were cautious in their play. That is why the score at half time was 0-0, but Wanderers dominated as skipper Mlamuli ‘Mlaba’ Nkambule was deployed back to his natural position in the belly of the park.
The second half saw the host team engaging a top gear as they started creating good scoring opportunities and kept Madlenya goal custodian busy as he made a double save to deny
MSimphiwe ‘Cheese’ Manana (M. Wanderers): The former Mbabane Highlanders player was a marvel to watch at the back as he commanded his defenders well to keep Madlenya forwards at bay. He capped his good day in the office with a beautiful goal.
Bongumenzi ‘SD’ Dlamini at close range a few minutes into this stanza.
He was called again to make yet another crucial save, this time coming out to block Phathizwe ‘Kati’ Mabuza’s effort from a one-on-one situation. Madlenya’s first chance of the game fell on the enterprising Sethu Ngcamphalala, who tried his luck from range and his curling shot was comfortably collected by goalkeeper Bongiswa ‘Romeo’ Dlamini, who had a relative relaxed afternoon at the posts.
LEAD
Wanderers claimed the lead in the 70th minute of the game when a corner kick from ‘Mlaba’ was allowed to pass through a crowd of bodies in the penalty area before being emphatically finished by defender Simphiwe Manana, through a cheeky back hill that went past goalkeeper Mndeni to open the deadlock for the home side.
The Weslians’ joy was cut seven minutes later after defender Mancoba Nhlabatsi handled the ball in the box, referee Mciniseli Sithole did not hesitate but pointed on the spot.
The rookies trusted penalty taker, Thabiso ‘TK’ Dlamini, made no mistake but to drive the ball in the back of the net.
Striker Njabulo ‘Koko ‘ Gama almost put the giants in the lead again with a long-range strike, which was tipped over the crossbar in the last 10 minutes of the game while seconds later it was Wanderers again who spurned a chance when second half substitute Layode saw his low shot saved by Mndeni once again.
Chances dried up and the game became stop-start through the final third of regulation time, though Madlenya nearly snatched a goal in the 86th minute, when Thabiso Dlamini’s snap shot almost caught Bongiswa napping between the sticks.
A 1-1 draw looked set to be the final result, but Wanderers snatched victory with a beautiful team gala effort from second half substitute Layode, who curled a shot just inside Mndeni’s left-hand upright in the fourth minute of injury time to take the handful of Wanderers supporters in cloud nine, in what also proved to be the last action of the game.
Despite the victory over Madlenya which saw the Lubombo-based side coach, William Gamedze shown a red card, Wanderers remained unmoved in the log standings in 12th place with 17 points.