‘ Buffs’ complete double over Milling
( Mhlume Stadium)
Y. Buffaloes… ( 2) 3
Bongwa 5th , Phiwa 30th , Sifiso 90th
M. Hot Spurs… ( 0) 0
MHLUME – MTN League defending champions Young Buffaloes beat Milling Hot Spurs 3- 0 to keep their title hopes alive with five games to go.
It was winger Bongwa Matsebula, current league top goalscorer Phiwa Dlamini and Sifiso ‘ Junior’ Mazibuko who were on target to not only inspire the army side to 19 wins but also completed a double over Spurs.
In t he reverse fixture played on December 17, 2020, the Sabelo Mnisi- led charges cruised to a 3- 1 win.
The win for the home side also ensured they are second on the spot with 61 points, six points a drift from runaway league log leaders Royal Leopard, who yesterday beat Mbabane Swallows 2- 0.
Despite losing yesterday, Milling are still perched on the eighth spot with 30 points after 26 games.
Proved
The hosts proved that they needed the points more than their opponents as they scored as early as the 5th minute. It was Bongwa Matsebula who benefitted from Sandile ‘ Saviola’ Gamedze’s rebound to make it 1- 0. He finished from close range beating the goalkeeper Sifiso Maseko across the sticks.
The visitors seemed to gain strength after conceding the first goal and almost restored parity but a Bandile Shongwe powerful shot from the edge of the box was saved byNhlanhl aG we bu 10 minutes away from the half hour mark.
However, their effort to come back into the game was neutralised by the hosts as they doubled matters in the half hour mark. It was Phiwa who netted his 18th goal of the season from a tapin on the right flank following a Fanelo ‘ Order’ Mamba cross.
The game went into a breather with the home side enjoying the two goals cushion.
After resumption, the visitors came back revamped and almost reduced the deficit in the hour mark. Richard Effah’s cross from the left flank was met by Captain Lwazi Bhembe but his header shaved the woodwork for a goal kick.
Nhlanhla Gwebu was again called into action to stop an advancing Milling striker, Sambulo Vilakati, from scoring in the 70th minute on a oneon- one occasion.
The army side regrouped and almost stretched the lead through Sandile ‘ Saviola’ Gamedze but his tap- in was parried away for a fruitless corner with 10 minutes remaining. Just when the visitors were searching for a goal, the home side scored against the run of play through substitute Sifiso ‘ Junior’ Mazibuko. ‘ Junior’ who replaced ‘ Order’ headed home a ‘ Saviola’ cross at the stroke of full time to make it 3- 0.