Kuruleni Happy Fighters fought hard to earn a 7-6 victory over Tshakhuma Na Ndilani FC in their Top Four Soccer Tournament at the Kuruleni grounds on Sunday.
Both sides displayed entertaining football from the onset, creating scoring chances for their strikers, who kept on fumbling at the goal finish. Happy Fighters were the first to squander a scoring chance. Their slender striker, Chris Hlongwane, could not believe his eyes when his half volley hit the woodwork and bounced back into the field of play in the 14th minute. This after he had received a beautiful pass from Irish Maphophe at the edge of the penalty box.
Tshakhuma Na Ndilani were the first to effect change to their starting line-up. They replaced Maduvha Matodzi with Valley Tshishonga in the 38th minute. Happy Fighters came close to scoring again two minutes before half time. Israel Masingi received a brilliant pass from Mukhethwa Mukoma inside the box and hesitated for far too long to unleash, until he lost possession.
Fighters used all their substitution chances. They introduced Happy Malulele, Mpho Sotshaya and Matimba Ntsumele for Mukhethwa Mukoma, Oscar Mathebula and Irish Maphophe respectively in the 59th minute.
Fighters played defensive football in the last 15 minutes of the game. No goal was seen during in the regulation time and the winner was determined through a penalty shoot-out. Fighters converted seven of their chances while Makhurabada scored six. Fighters received a cash prize of R1 600 after the game.