After donating league points to Cape Town All Stars two weeks ago, Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM) made a comeback and beat Mbombela United 2-1 in their NFD League match at the Thohoyandou Stadium on Saturday.
TTM started the game like a house on fire, with their midfielders, Khunadi Nkoana, David Mathebula and Alton Kapinga, distributing effective passes to the strikers from time to time. It took TTM only two minutes to stamp their authority. They were awarded a corner kick that was taken by David Mathebula. Their Zimbabwean defender, Carlton Nyadombo, beat the keeper with a fine header.
The visitors from Nelspruit lost cohesion in the middle of the park shortly after TTM's opening goal. TTM increased the margin in the seventh minute. Themba Ndlovu headed home, following a heartbreaking scramble within the box.
United's playmaker, Siphesihle Sangweni, was warned with a card in the 18th minute. He obstructed Alton Kapinga just outside the penalty box. TTM's dribbling wizard, Mpambaniso Monde, found himself on the wrong side of the football laws in the 27th minute. He tackled Inky Masuku from behind and the referee was lenient enough not to let him see red.
Mbombela pulled one back nine minutes before the referee blew the half-time whistle. Mfanufikile Ndzimande blasted in a rocket, following Victor Shongwe's square pass.
United took the game to the home side in the first 15 minutes of the last half. That prompted TTM's technical staff to effect two changes in quick succession. They replaced Aluwani Nedzamba and David Mathebula with Khethowakhe Masuku and Lesvin Stoffels respectively. TTM could have increased the margin late in the game, but Mpambaniso Monde was unlucky after beating the offside trap. Instead of unleashing from inside the box, Monde attempted to dribble past the keeper, but he lost possession in the process.