Tshaulu Powerlines were unstoppable when they brutally beat Gunda Blue Birds 4-0 at the Tshifudi Stadium on Saturday to secure a place in the semifinal of the Boy Nemakonde KO competition.
Powerlines, the defending champions, did not waste any time before demonstrating to their opponents that they really meant business. Their slender striker, Ntshuxeko Simango, threatened to score three minutes into the game. He received a beautiful pass from Unarine Ralukake and unleashed a volley from the 25-meter area. Unfortunately for them, the ball hit the side netting.
Simango's time came in the 18th minute. This time around he made no mistake, following a neat pass from Mukhethwa Madzhuta. Blue Birds lost cohesion in the middle of the park after the Powerlines' opening goal. The defending champions capitalized and scored their second goal in the 26th minute. They were awarded a free kick in the 35-meter area. Terrence Hlungwane beat the Birds' keeper, Lovers Mutele, with a volley from the free kick.
Powerlines were three goals up when the referee, Mr Roy Mulaudzi, blew the half-time whistle. Their third goal was an honor to Unarine Ralukake, whose long-range volley hit the crossbar and landed across the goal line.
Things turned against Blue Birds when they were reduced to 10 men nine minutes into the last half. Their bulldozer striker, Mukhathutsheli Nephawe, was given his marching orders for a dangerous tackle. The players of Blue Birds were not happy with the referee's decision to show Nephawe red. They confronted the lone referee angrily and manhandled him during the argument. The game continued, however, after stopping for about ten minutes.
Powerlines increased the margin in the 78th minute when Norman Nemanashi scored with a header after a corner kick that was taken by Ben Makeke.