Title race on fire: Hardrock pile pressure on Scottland

Hardrock FC moved to within a point of Scottland FC with a hard-fought 4-1 win over TelOne at Chahwanda Stadium on Saturday, turning the title race into a straight sprint.

The win takes Hardrock to 57 points after 28 games. Leaders Scottland FC sit on 58 points, with just six games left before the season ends.

With only a point separating the defending champions and the ambitious upstarts, and the run-in now upon us, this championship battle is set for a grandstand finish. Hardrock are breathing right down Scottland’s neck, and it looks like the title could go all the way to the wire.

The Midlands derby got off to a lively start as Thubelihle Mavuso’s goal-bound rasping shot from range on the 12th minute needed goalkeeper Panashe Marovanyika to fist the ball out.

Marovanyika was again called into action on the 20th minute, on the counter-attack, first repelling a shot from outside the box from Donald Mudadi before blocking Sambulo Simelane’s attempt on the rebound.

Eswatini international Sambulo Simelane in action for Hardrock FC. Picture by Hardrock FC/Facebook

SAMBULO SIMELANE’S BRACE POWERS HARDROCK PAST TELONE FC

Simelane finally managed to break the deadlock for Hardrock FC on the 33rd minute, following a blunder by goalkeeper Marovanyika who failed to handle a harmless shot from Mavuso. The Eswatini international freely poked the ball home.

Six minutes later, Simelane completed his brace after capitalising on yet another mistake from the TelOne FC defenders. That goal all but put Hardrock FC in full control of proceedings.

Hardrock FC could have made it three at the break, but Marovanyika denied Prince Dube’s nicely executed turn and shot on the 44th minute.

However, they did not relax and they kept prodding, with Donald Mudadi taking a more offensive role. The former Dynamos man grabbed the third goal on the 54th minute, again capitalising on a lack of concentration in the TelOne defence.

Coach Kelvin Kaindu further introduced Wilfred Madzungu, Nigel Matinha , Last Nyilenda and Yekisizwe Khumalo, adding more firepower in search of more goals to boost their goal difference which has now risen to 30, the second best in the league.

TelOne pulled one back on the 77th minute via Evans Katema but that was merely a consolation goal for them. Hardrock could have made it four on the 80th minute but Wilfred Madzungu was adjudged to be offside after tapping the ball home from a low cross from Nigel Matinha.

Last Nyilenda scored Hardrock’s fourth goal on tbe 84th minute, with a powerful left footer from just outside the box. Hardrock now shift focus to the Chibuku Super Cup quarter-finals where they face Scottland FC next weekend.

In the PSL they remain with tough matches against Highlanders, Bulawayo Chiefs, Dynamos FC, MWOS FC, Simba Bhora FC and FC Platinum. TelOne FC finished the game with ten men as Nqobizitha Masuku was sent off after accumulating two yellow cards.

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