Hearts climb league after second win in row

AS the Safa-NMB SAB League continues to splutter along, Hearts proved that their 3-1 win over Young Ideas last week was no flash in the pan when they beat log-leaders Morning Stars 2-1 to join them at the top of the log.

Playing at the Zwide Stadium on Saturday, the young Hearts outfit had run up a 2-0 lead at the break.

Athenkosi Booi put Hearts ahead when he latched on to an excellent cross from the left.

Before the break, a Stars defender deflected the ball into his own net.

The experienced Stars got their act together in the second half to reduce the deficit but it was too little too late.

At the Saints field in Gelvandale, 17-year-old Ryan Leander, the grandson of EP Soccer Board legend Ronnie Leander, was the hero of the day as Fairview Rovers bounced back from their 4-0 drubbing by PE Sundowns last week to beat Golden Aces 1-0.

After four matches, Aces are the only team in the league without a point on the board.

Highland Spurs recorded only their second win of the season, beating Camper United 2-1

Hardly a week goes by in this league without a match being called off for one reason or the other.

Last weekend, Young Killers and Amarhamba United were awarded soft points after Ikamva Movers and Mabayibone Strikers arrived late for their matches, while the match between Young Ideas and Despatch Pioneers was postponed after only one match official turned up.

Results:

Highland Spurs 2 Camper United 1, Fairview Rovers 1 Golden Aces 0, Major Chiefs 3 FC Winners 1, Morning Stars 1 Hearts 2, Young Killers w/o Ikhamva Movers, Amarhamba United w/o Mabayibone Strikers, Young Ideas v Despatch postponed.

NMMU Madibaz’s luck finally ran out in Jeffreys Bay on Saturday when they lost 3-1 on penalties to eventual winners Wits FC from Jeffreys Bay in the semifinals of the SAB League leg of the Nedbank Cup competition.

Madibaz were crowned champions of the Safa-NMB leg of the competition, winning three of their four matches on penalties.

The only match they won in normal time was the semifinal, when they beat Young Killers 2-1.

In the first round of the competition against the regional winners from across the province, Madibaz came from behind to draw 1-1 to beat Amavarara from Queenstown. They won the penalty shootout 4-2.

In the semifinals, the students came from behind once again to draw 1-1 to force the match into a shootout.

Madibaz goalkeeper Mzwandile Mvunyiswa, who was the hero throughout, saved two of the five penalties but his strikers let him down, failing to convert four.