‘Saviola’ heroics take Buffs top
D. Sundowns ........ 1 Wandile 66th Y. Buffaloes .......... 2 ‘Saviola’ 81st (Pen), 87th
MANZINI – It was all against the run of play but Young Buffaloes are back at the summit of the MTN Premier League standings.
This follows a late brace by last season’s 26-goal top scorer Sandile ‘Saviola’ Gamedze yesterday against an unlucky Denver Sundowns in an MTN Premier League game, played here. All Buffaloes needed on the day was a red card to Sundowns defender Mbutfo Mtsetfwa for a costly handball inside the box, resulting in a penalty which ‘Saviola’ scored nine minutes from time. It was a goal-bound header by second half substitute Ndoda Mtsetfwa that was hand blocked.
Sundowns Coach Gcina Dlamini also rested an effective Sphamandla Dlamini, which allowed the army team back into it and to eventually steal the maximum points three minutes from time. Saviola was again on target, taking his tally to six goals this season, five behind the leading goal scorer Felix Badenhorst, who missed his side’s last match due to suspension.
The army side were dethroned from the top position for a week by Green Mamba, who did not play this week as their game against Tambankulu Callies was cancelled at the eleventh hour, due to a waterlogged Mayaluka Stadium, after the persistent rains the country is experiencing.
The Mandla ‘Stofu’ Dlaminicoached Buffaloes were otherwise outplayed for the better part of the match. Sundowns had a goal denied for an offside early in the second half before deservedly taking the lead soon after the hour mark.
Tony Brankinos, had got the ball into the net but Referee Thokozani Dlamini blew for an offside. Winger Wandile Ntshakala’s strike landed into the top far corner of the net to give his team the lead, he chipped the ball over the advancing Mlungisi Nxumalo. It looked like a second was beckoning but Buffaloes held on and pushed for an equaliser in the dying minutes but got more than that a 2-1 win to go two points clear of Green Mamba who have 26 points.
The result left Sundowns unmoved on the log, but they deserved all three points. However, they will rue missed chances as they were the better side from the start until that red card as it left them exposed.
This is very unfortunate result for Sundowns, whose football is of a side that should easily be winning games but then again they are a youthful side with a few experienced players and that could be their weakness. This was also their fourth successive defeat, leaving them winless to date this year.