By NOMALUNGELO PHIRI | 2022-11-24
Tambuti.......................................................(1)2
Mbusiseni 9th, Issa 53rd
Leopard ......................................................(0)1
Arthur 83rd
SOCCER- MTN Premier League defending champions Royal Leopard suffered yet another midweek shock with a 2-1 defeat in the hands of minnows Tambuti at Ka-Langa Stadium yesterday.
This was Ingwemabalabala’s second defeat in a space of a week after losing to rookies Nsingizini Hotspurs last Wednesday before the 1-0 win over Seven Dreams over the weekend.
Royal Leopard paraded a depleted side as they were without the services of their experienced attacking midfielder Junior Magagula, who picked an injury against Nsingizini and defender Simanga Masangane.
The police side created spaces in search for the opener, but the Tambuti rearguard stood firm.
Decision-Making
The home side drew first blood in the ninth minute through a Mbusiseni Motsa simple tap-in inside the box, which stunned the opposition’s defence. The visitors upped their tempo after the opener, but they were let down by poor decision-making in the final third.
The match went to the breather with Tambuti enjoying a slender advantage.
The second half saw the home side double its advantage eight minutes into restart through international player Issa Serr, who finished off a rebound. Meanwhile, Leopard coach Edwin Matsebula made quadruple substitutions in a bid to restore control inside the field of play by introducing Sifiso Matse, Bongani Ndzimandze, Fanelo Tsabedze and Senzelwe Dlamini for Menzi Sithole , Lungelo Tsabedze, Wandile Simelane and Ntokozo Gamedze respectively.
Moments later, Leopard’s new signing Thembisa Shabangu missed numerous scoring chances, thus he was later substituted for Ghanaian striker Arthur Richards.
The West African player rewarded his coach handsomely as he pulled one back for the visitors, who made no mistake and scored from the left wing beating Tambuti goal minder Ncedo Mamba with only eight minutes remaining on the clock.
Richards collided with Ncedo during that scoring moment, forcing a prolonged 11 minutes of added time, where Tambuti stood firm until the end to condemn the star-studded opponents to their third defeat, in what was Tambuti’s first win of the campaign.
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