Zwane’s late strike sink Thanda
Zwane’s late strike sink Thanda

Posted in News on Jan 18, 2009.

Absa Premiership


Venue: Absa Stadium, Durban


Date: 18 January 2009


Kick off: 15h30


Thanda Royal Zulu (1) (Nyatama 4)


Kaizer Chiefs (2) (Motaung 28), (Zwane 85)


Cautions: Tsotetsi, Letsholonyane, Chabalala, Motale, Madindilane



Arthur Zwane’s 85th minute sensational winner against Thanda Royal Zulu at Absa Stadium on Sunday afternoon ensured that the Glamour Boys keep their Absa Premiership title hopes alive. The goal was 10111’s fourth strike of the season.



The Amakhosi were forced to come back from behind after Thanda opened the scoring inside four minutes through Musa Nyatama. Kaizer Motaung Jr. levelled the matters in the 28th minute forcing the game to go to the half time with 1 all.



The Glamour Boys moved to fourth position in the Absa Premiership log with 26 points behind Orlando Pirates who also have 26 points in the bag. The Glamour Boys could now move to the second spot next week when they host Maritzburg United if results go their way.



The Glamour Boys went to Durban on a high after beating Mamelodi Sundowns away from home last Sunday but its hosts, Thanda Royal Zulu took the visitors, Kaizer Chiefs by surprise when they grabbed the first goal of the match as early as third minute. Tinashe Nengomasha appeared to have cleared the danger when he intercepted the ball in the edge of the box, but a communication slip up between the latter and young defender, Wayne Matle led to an easy goal by Musa Nyatama who only had Itumeleng Khune to beat, 1-0.



Thanda continued with their onslaught and came close to adding their second goal with July Mahlangu’s shot from a close range going agonisingly wide of Itumeleng Khune’s goals and Sibusiso Hadebe missed with inches as his shot went wide following good work by Katlego Loke on the right.



Muhsin Ertugral made a tactical change when he pulled Gordon Gilbert out for a midfielder, Reneilwe Letsholonyane. The move immediately paid dividends as the Glamour Boys controlled the proceedings with substitute Reneilwe Letsholonyane prominent. It came as no surprise as the visitors grabbed the equaliser through a left footed shot in the left corner from Kaizer Motaung Jr. on the rebound after Aubrey Mathibe failed to hold on Arthur Zwane’s initial shot, 1-1.



Then Tshepo Bulu’s strike went just wide of Aubrey Mathibe’s goal following an excellent build up involving Reneilwe Letsholonyane and Kaizer Motaung Jr.



The latter should have grabbed his brace before half time when he lost his footing allowing Aubrey Mathibe to collect easily. This was following a sublime cross from Zwane that was cleverly flicked in by Tshep Bulu. Half-time score was 1 all.



The Amakhosi started the second half with a bang with no. 11, Abia Nale asking lot of questions from Thanda Royal Zulu defence. First he beat two defenders to create for Kaizer Motaung Jr. who had his shot blocked, Tshepo followed up but his shot was blocked as well.



Minutes later, the Vaal born midfielder was in the thick of things as his first time struck volley went just over the bar after a good pass from Tshepo Bulu.



Veteran winger, Arthur Zwane came close to grabbing a winner as his curler went just over the bar following some good piece of work from his teammate, Tshepo Bulu.



With action swinging on both sides, Thanda Royal Zulu came close on two occasions breaking the deadlock. First nippy, Sibusiso Hadebe fired over the bar after beating Wayne Matle. Then Sibusiso Mazibuko shot wide when he could have laid a pass to his teammate, Nkosinathi Nhleko.



However, it was the Glamour Boys who had a last laugh as Arthur Zwane struck a winner with five minutes remaining on the clock. This followed superb work from Abia Nale who won his second consecutive 'Man of the Match' award.



Chiefs: Khune, Matle, Gordon (Letsholonyane 23)(Mooki 78 ), Tsotetsi, Rooi, Nengomasha (Capt.), Zwane , Bulu(Mathebula ), Tshabalala, Nale, Motaung



Substitutes not used: Baron, Tau, Mooki, Sibeko



Technical Team



Muhsin Ertugral (Head Coach)


Fani Madida (Assistant Coach)


Rainer Dinkelacker (Goalkeeper Coach)


Elsa Storm (Fitness Trainer)


Shaheem Abraham (Team doctor)




Thanda: Mathibe, Madindilane, Leshabane, Mohammed, Motale (Nhleko 58), Chabalala, Mahlangu, Loke, Nyatama, Mazibuko, Hadebe



Substitutes: Makhathini, Zuma, Kibe, Nhleko, Mfeka, Rammile, Phakathi



Match Officials



Peter Mabuza (Referee)


Andrew Rezeers (1st Assistant)


Mantuse Nayo (2nd Assistant)


Mathew Dyer (4th Official)


Steve Goddard (Match Commissioner)

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