Chilies too hot for XI Bullets

Tswera Hot Chillies fought hard to secure a place in the last-16 stage of the King Abraham Pre-Season KO competition when they beat Vondwe XI Bullets 6-5 at the Sambandou grounds on Sunday.

Hot Chilies deserved to win. Their game plan was superb as they managed to keep their danger area clean in the first 15 minutes.

XI Bullets recuperated and started to play united like a team. They took the lead in the 19^th minute when Muphulusi Gumula tried his luck with a half volley from the 25-meter area. Rolivhuwa Mbengeni, the Chilies’ keeper, watched helplessly as the ball went beyond his reach.

Chilies continued to maintain shape in the middle of the park. Their efforts paid off when Calvin Mbengeni, who scored a brace in the game, finished off a rebound in the 26^th minute.

Chilies injected more life into their striking force by replacing Funanani Nenungwi and Ndobvangomu Mudau with Vhukhudo Rammbwa and Omphulusa Netswera respectively.

Chilies took the lead in the 29^th minute when Calvin Mbengeni completed his brace. He intercepted a back-pass and unleashed a powerful half volley from inside the box. The score was 2-2 when the referee blew the half-time whistle. This after XI Bullets found the equalizer through Tshianeo Maphula in the 40^th minute.

The score remained 2-2 until the end of the regulation time and the winner was determined through penalty shootout. Chilies converted four of their five chances through Calvin Mengeni, Rolivhuwa Mbengeni, Vhukhudo Rammbwa, Takali Muganelwa and Maipfi Magalela, while Bullets scored three from the white spot.

Date:05 September 2019

By: Frank Mavhungu

Frank is a Human Resources Manager at the Department of Public Works in Limpopo. He is the longest serving correspondent of the Mirror, having joined us at the end of 1990.  He mainly writes sports reports and resides at Tsianda Village. In 2004, Frank won the National Castle League Award, an award for the best reporter in the SAB league in South Africa.

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