SUCKER-PUNCHER

Sihlangu striker Mfanzile 'Fash' Dlamini leaves Batswana defenders trailing in one of the squad's attacks in the match. Sihlangu lost 0-1

Sihlangu 0, Botswana 1. SOCCER – SIHLANGU SeMnikati have put their hopes of reaching the COSAFA Senior Challenge Cup quarter-finals into jeopardy after displaying a subdued performance to go down 0-1 to a well-organised Botswana in a match played at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.

Sihlangu needed to win this game to book a place in the last eight but gave away the game after putting up a disappointing performance, direct opposite of the display they showed against Seychelles in their opening game, which they won 2-1 on Sunday at the same venue.
If truth be told, the nation’s pride failed to inspire and looked disjointed as they hardly threatened the Botswana defence for the better part of the game. To their credit, Botswana came into the game with a game plan and it worked for them. They looked resolute at the back and threatening when going forward, particularly their South African-based attacking winger Pontsho Moloi who was again named the ‘man of the match’ after winning the same award in his team’s first game against Comoros.
The tiny-looking but immensely talented player was a thorn to the Sihlangu defence everytime he was in possession of the game, running circles around right-back Lwazi ‘Shana’ Maziya, who started the game in the place of Sifiso ‘CJ’ Dlamini.
The Mhlambanyatsi Rovers’ defender was given a torrid time by Moloi and no wonder he asked to be substituted mid-way through the first half after complaining of muscle-pull yet it was apparent that he was struggling with his game.
The goal that decided the outcome of this game came in fortunate circumstances in the 54th minute. Moloi floated in a place kick at the edge of the box on the left flank and the ball, which was clearly out of the playing field was headed into the goalmouth by Mmusa Ohilwe and it hit the head of Onalethata Tshekiso who clearly was not expecting the ball.
Fortunate as it may have looked, but it still proved crucial as it handed Botswana their first maximum points of the tournament and subsequently took them to the top of the log standings with a game to go. Botswana now need to win their remaining game against Seychelles, who at the time of going to press, were trailing Comoros by a solitary goal in the other group match.
Sihlangu now need to pray that Seychelles force a draw against Botswana and they win their game against Comoros tomorrow to sneak into the quarter-finals, a wait and hope situation realistically.
Back into the game, Sihlangu looked sluggish from the start and struggled to create scoring chances despite that coach Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba had deployed an attacking line-up with three strikers in Sabelo Hlatjwako, Mzwandile Ndzimandze and Mfanzile ‘Fash’ Dlamini who was given little room to trouble the opposition defence.
In essence, Sihlangu’s performance was basically an eye-sore, no wonder the Zimbabweans at the stadium who were clearly rooting for the Swazi side to win could not hide their disappointment with what they saw of the team they had grown to love after their exploits in the first game.
Sihlangu looked a completely new team and in one of their few scoring opportunities, Mathokoza ‘Tokyo’ Thwala saw his stunning 35 yards shot palmed away for a fruitless corner by Botswana’s goalkeeper Noah Maposa who was impressive in the 9th minute.
Tsekiso came close to taking Botswana ahead in the 12th minute but his shot went inches wide with Thokozani Mkhulisi stranded between the Sihlangu poles. Sihlangu’s Sabelo Hlatjwako was desperately unlucky in the 36th minute when his header went agonizingly wide off target after a place kick by a ‘CJ’ place kick.
The second half saw Sihlangu playing much better but it was the troublesome Moloi who nearly doubled his team’s lead in the 57th minute when he well-floated place kick forced a brilliant save from Mkhulisi.
Seeing that time was running out, Sihlangu tried to put Botswana under pressure and veteran mid-fielder Mxolisi ‘Stopper’ Mthethwa could not believe his eyes when his header from a Raphael Ntimane place kick in the 72nd minute missed the target by inches.
Despite enjoying a better ball possession at this stage as Botswana were content with defending their slender lead, Sihlangu hardly threatened to score until the final whistle sounded, provoking celebrations from the Botswana players and officials alike, clearly aware that their destiny is now in their own hands.
A great disappointment for Sihlangu indeed!

TEAMS:
SIHLANGU – Mkhulisi, Shana (CJ), Raphael, Sihawu, Zakhele, Stopper, Mzwandile Ndzimandze (Malungisa Dlamini), Mathokoza Thwala, Fash Dlamini, Sabelo Hlatjwako, Welile Maseko (Ndoda Mthethwa)
BOTSWANA – Maposa, Ndiyapo Letsholathebe, Mosimanegape Ramchibidy, Ohilwe, Mompati Thuma, Moloi, Ofentse Nato, Moemedi Moatlhaping, Kemmy Pilato, Mokgathi Mokgathi
REFEREE: Seechurn Rajindraparsad (Mauritius)
ASSISTANTS: Zindove Alfred ( Zimbabwe), Mokhemisa John (Lesotho)

COSAFA Group B Log:
 P W D L GF GA Pts
1. Comoros  2 1 1 - 2 1 4
2. Botswana FC  2 1 1 - 1 0 4
3. Swaziland  2 1 - 1 2 2 3
4. Seychelles 2 - - 2 2 4 0

Results:
Botswana  1-0  Swaziland
Comoros 2-1 Seychelles
Fixtures:
Tomorrow:
Swaziland  vs  Comoros 13h30
Seychelles vs Botswana 15h30