By Sibusiso Masilela
(At KaLanga Technical Centre)
Madlenya………………………………………… (0)0
Green Mamba…………………………………..(2) 4
Njabulo Ndlovu 15th, 52nd, Mxolisi Manana 37th, 57th
Ruthless Green Mamba finally broke Madlenya ‘s virginity in the current MTN Premier League with a resounding 4-0 win over the early pacesetters.
The defending champions handed the Siphofaneni-based side their first league defeat of the season at Ka-Langa Technical Centre on Sunday. The Correctional Services side further boosted their chances of winning the E100 000 first-round carrot as they reclaimed the spot with 23 points two points ahead of the second-placed Mbabane Swallows with three games remaining in the first round.
The result further dented Madlenya’s hopes of winning the carrot as they drifted to position six with 17 points. The visitors meant business from the onset as they drew first blood in the first quarter through a sublime finish from Njabulo ‘D4D’ Ndlovu who blasted home a Mxolisi Manana pass inside the box with a rasping shot.
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The goal forced the home side to come out of their laurels after the opener as a Mncedisi Magagula header went wide from a Senzo Fakudze cross. The visitors doubled their advantage in the 37th minute through a Mxolisi Manana well-taken strike inside the box from a break attack to give his side a two-goal lead going to the breather.
The green and white ensemble continued where they had left in the first half during the last stanza as ‘D4D’ Ndlovu completed his brace seven minutes into the restart with a glancing header from a Sabelo’ Sikhali’ Ndzinisa cross.
The Ernest Mavuso-led side was not done yet as Manana made it four with another stunning curler seven minutes later. Madlenya could not cause any threat until full-time as they were outclassed by the revamped opponents.
