Mpheni Home Defenders gave Matanda Rockers a day to remember when they hammered them 5-1 in the final of the Luvhengo Mungomeni Soccer Challenge at the Rabali Stadium on Monday.
The game provided maximum entertainment from the word go, with both sides creating chances for their strikers. The Mpheni lads squandered an early chance when Hector Mulaudzi shot wide after finding a way through the opponents' defence.
Shaft Mulaudzi of Defenders was put down inside the penalty area and the referee pointed to white spot. Fisters Magimisa converted the penalty. Two players of Rockers, Nkhaneni Radzhadzhi and Micheal Manavhela, were booked for dangerous tackles in the 28th and 30th minute respectively.
Defenders increased the score when the game was 38 minutes old. Hector Mulaudzi scored after a place kick by Thuso Mbau, to bring the half-time score to 2-0. Fisters Magodimisa of Defenders was given a yellow card for dangerous play.
Emmanuel Mphephu scored his team's third goal after he finished off a square pass from Tebogo Thangwane. Phenyiso Phupheli of Rockers reduced the margin when he scored the only goal of his team. Three minutes later, Vicent Ramunana scored the fourth goal when he broke loose from the right-hand corner and blasted in a ground cutter.
Halelani Nukei of Rockers should have scored, but his well-timed shot missed the pole by an inch. Vincent Ramunana completed his brace and scored the fifth goal late in the match.
Defenders went home with R10 000 cash, a new kit, gold medals and a floating trophy. As runners-up, Matanda Rockers received R5 000, silver medals and a new soccer kit. The other six participating teams all received R2 000.