‘Figa’ scores in All Stars defeat
MBABANE – TS Galaxy player, Justice Figuareido netted a goal for Cape Town All Stars but it was not enough.
This is after they lost 1-2 to Swallows in South Africa’s Premier Soccer League (PSL) Promotion/Relegation play-offs, which were played at Lucas Moripe Stadium yesterday.
Igugu Lekapa controlled the match from the start and they were able to unsettle the Amaswaiswai defence which was marshalled by the experienced Wandisile Letlabika.
However, the likes of Zaphaniah Mbokoma, Figuareido and Sabelo Nyembe were indecisive and wasteful in front of goal, and the visitors struggled to register shots on target.
‘Figa’ as he is affectionately known, scored just five minutes before halftime. ‘Figa’s team were leading going into break.
However, Amaswaiswai got their playoffs campaign off to a winning start with two goals from Mbulelo Wambi and Joseph Mhlongo, propelling the team to a come-from-behind win. Swallows came back and scored an equiliser, eight minutes after the hour mark.
They scored the winner in regulation time, snatching a slender victory at the expense of ‘Figa’s team.
All Stars recorded their second successive defeat in the playoffs with their ambitions of gaining promotion to the PSL from the GladAfrica Championship fading away. Igugu Lekapa will face the University of Pretoria next week Wednesday.
Boost
The Soweto giants will now take on the University of Pretoria on Saturday as they look to secure another win in order to boost their hopes of retaining their status in the Premier Soccer League (PSL).
Swallows finished on position 15 in the DStv Premiership after playing to a 2-2 draw with Kaizer Chiefs in their last match, although maximum points were not going to be enough after TS Galaxy won their match against Chippa United.
All Stars, on the other hand, had a bad start in the play-offs after suffering a 1-3 defeat to University of Pretoria in their opening game on Sunday.
The last time the sides met was in the 2015/16 GladAfrica Championship campaign, where Igugu Lekapa won the first round battle 2-0 and held the Birds to 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture.
After yesterday’s setback, ‘Figa’s team remain at the basement of the three-team play-offs. The Birds are second on the log, behind leaders University of Pretoria on goal difference.
Only one team will be promoted to the DStv Premiership after round four. The teams play against each other twice (home and away). ‘Figa’, on the other hand, is expected to join Sihlangu for their AFCON 2022 Qualifiers set to be played in Togo tomorrow.