Mpheni Home Defenders were crowned champions of the Safa Vhembe MMK Administrators League when they beat Mikhado FC in the final match at the Thohoyandou Stadium on Sunday. The winners were determined by penalty shoot-out.
Mikhado came back from a 2-0 deficit to hold Defenders to a 2-all draw.
Defenders played entertaining football from the onset, but their strikers were unlucky. Aluwani Nedzamba, the Mikhado right flank, missed a good opportunity in the ninth minute, after he beat two defenders of Mpheni in a row, only to cause dismay by shooting aimlessly from inside the box. The ball went far wide.
Mikhado were the first to effect a change to their original line-up. They introduced Mpho Mavhandu and sacrificed Ndivhuwo Havhi.
The referee, Mr Jealous Chavani, flashed the first yellow card in the 27th minute. Isaac Makhuvha of Defenders was warned for a late tackle on Zwivhuya Mbadaliga.
Defenders opened their account in the 34th minute. Lucky "Machine" Mulaudzi made no mistake after receiving a square pass from Ndaedzo Mareda to bring the half-time score to 1-0.
Mikhado replaced Vuledzani Mahosi with Sailor Thavhana in the opening minutes of the last half. Defenders lost shape in the middle of the park shortly after the replacement from Mikhado. They were severely punished for that. Defenders increased the margin via Lucky Mulaudzi, whose long-range ground cutter was too hot for the opponent keeper, Mukovhe Mphaga, to handle.
Mikhado did not lose hope, despite trailing by two goals. They continued to play like a team, initiating some promising moves from behind. They reduced the deficit by one through Lucky Masutha, when he beat the keeper with a volley.
Sailor Thavhana equalised three minutes later from a free kick and left the keeper, Carlton Munyai, helpless.