Merciless United wallops North West University

ALEXANDRA - A ruthless Alex United exhibited no mercy when they pumped eight goals past relegation candidates North West University of the Vaal at the Balfour Park Stadium.

May 21, 2015

Sipho Siso 2 minutes read

ANOTHER set of goal scorers, Collins Zimba and Mfanafuthi 'Isidlakela' Mboma celebrate one of their goals.

The final score was 8-1.

It was a match of jittery nerves for both sides as it was a replay of a game which the varsity side had won 2-1. The result was nullified by a disciplinary committee when United registered a complaint about the use of a linesman in that match who had failed a fitness test. They won the case and a replay was ordered.

Hope City Giants won this game, though the two sides will meet again in another clash of the second round of the ABC Motsepe League.

This win puts United on 65 points from 28 games, four points ahead of their nearest rivals, African All Stars. This further enhances their chances of making it to the promotional play-offs for the National First Division next season.

United went into this match on the back of a 6-2 win against second-from-the-bottom of the league side, FC Kathorus.

Hope City Giants’ hot right-winger, Chicho Mabeba was the first to register his name on the score sheet, barely six minutes after the start of the game. Four minutes later, the boot of prolific striker, Mfanafuthi ‘Isidlakela’ Mboma added a second goal for United.

Varsity team captain Tumelo Thebe led by example when he took a well-struck free kick just outside the 18-yard area in the 21st minute of the game that bamboozled the home team’s keeper and curled into the back of the net. United’s first choice keeper, Damiane van der Walt injured himself in the process and had to be replaced by reserve keeper, Owen Hankey.

In the 56th minute, Mboma added his second with the easiest of tap-ins, while dreadlocked midfielder-cum-striker, Collins Zimba grazed the crossbar with a powerful shot.

Mboma was fouled on the verge of the box in the 60th minute and Mabeba made no mistake from the spot kick. Mboma grabbed his hat-trick in the 65th minute, but was immediately substituted due to being injured from the foul. His substitute, Pedro Margues also found the back of the net in the 71st minute.

Five minutes later Zimba finally got his reward, while Booysen Sambok came close had he taken a first-time volley in the 85th minute. Zimba completed the rout with United’s eighth on the stroke of full time.