Lions will be on the prowl for Dra in the Top 8 final of the Alex Northrand LFA’s Promotional League

Sandringham-based Royal Lions FC will lock horns with Dra FC in the final of the newly introduced Top 8 competition of the Alexandra Northrand Local Football Association scheduled for the coming weekend.

Lions beat Gauteng FC 2–1 in the second semi-final of the competition to book their encounter with Dra FC who had earlier disposed of a gritty MaAfrika FC. Both these matches were played on the same day at the Number 3 Square Ground.

Dra and MaAfrika were deadlocked at 2–2 at the end of the 90 minutes and went into a penalty shootout with the KwaMadala Hostel-based Dra prevailing 4–2 in one of the township’s most entertaining football battles.

MaAfrika were the first to draw blood in this fierce battle when Raboto Ntshendefeni found the back of the net with a superb header just three minutes into the game.

But that joy was short-lived as Dra got the equaliser in just three minutes of the MaAfrika goal through the boot of Busani Mthethwa from the penalty spot following a foul on one of the Dra strikers inside the box.

Nyaolani Fhulufhelo then struck the crossbar with a beautiful cross that could have catapulted MaAfrika back in the lead. Fhulufhelo was back at it again, this time with a cross for a teammate but Thulani Maluleke failed to connect with the ball.

Maluleke only managed to connect with the referee Lucky Mazibuko’s yellow card for dissent soon after an earlier verbal warning for the same offence. Although the two teams settled for 1–1 at halftime, the first half belonged to MaAfrika as they asked the bulk of the questions.

In the second half, Marcus Mabela found the back of the net in the 68th minute from a goalmouth scramble and MaAfrika were back in the lead but then tactically played it wrong. They decided to sit back and defend their lead, not cognisant of the fact that sometimes the best form of defence is attack.

This led to a relentless raid of the MaAfrika goalmouth by a determined Dra seeking the equaliser and the potential winner. They were eventually rewarded in the 80th minute by a goal from Tshepo Mkhwanazi with the match ending 2–2 and going to penalties.

Dra coach Mosala Mafikeng said he was humbled to have reached the final but would not say if they would win it. “I will spy on my opponents now and then go to prepare my boys for the final,” he said.

His counterpart at MaAfrika Khathutshelo Monyae lamented the failure of his side to execute the chances created and said he was happy for Dra and wished them good luck in the final.

Related article:

https://northeasterntribune.co.za/228068/lions-prey-on-rangers/