Peacemakers held by Sundowns
M. Peacemakers...... 1
Serry Issa 35th
D. Sundowns............ 1
Spider 69th
HLUME – Still no basement side Peacemakers!
Three games are left before the curtain falls in the MTN Premier League but Peacemakers seem to be struggling to get out of the relegation zone. Playing in their own backyard yesterday against hub side, Denver Sundowns, they let a 1- 0 advantage slip to end up sharing the spoils with Sundowns who have done well in their quest to survive as they have won important games lately.
It was a game of two halves as Peacemakers dominated the first stanza and managed to take the lead in the 35th minute. Putting them in front was Serry Issa, who tapped in from close range a clever ball from Bandile Nxumalo. Before that, they could have scored inside the opening 15 but David Mangesi’s shot was parried back into play by the goalkeeper Felizwe Vilakati. His teammates George Jwankie missed from the rebound effort.
Mluck for Mhlume
Sundowns on the other hand missed a scoring chance when midfielder Mancoba ‘ Spider’ Maseko’s shot inside the box was cleared for a fruitless corner kick. Peacemakers took their slender lead to the break before the second half saw Sundowns start off brilliantly and were rewarded nine minutes after the hour. It was former Mbabane City and Manzini Wanderers midfielder, Spider who earned them a point with a goal from a spot kick in which he sent the goalkeeper the wrong way. A Sundowns player, Alakhe Dlamini, had been hacked inside the box.
Both sides made changes but it was Sundowns that benefitted more as they appeared to take control of the game especially after Callies took out the troublesome goalscorer Serry Issa for Banele Ndlangamandla. Winger Mike Dombo gave the Callies defence a torrid afternoon with his blazing runs and stepovers on the left flank.
The result leaves Callies third from bottom and level with second from bottom Pigg’s Peak Black Swallows on 24 points while Sundowns are two places higher on 25 points. Both live to fight another day on Wednesday as the league action continues with three games remaining.