GALLERY: Top eight bonanza in Lawley

EA LLA KOTO was the last team standing after outclassing Amazion on penalty shootouts in Lawley on April 28.

The tournament started on April 27, with Ea Lla Koto hammering Lawley Super Stars 3-0 booking their spot in the semi-finals. The following matches were Amazion out-seeing Freedom FC on penalties, Seven Stars beating Killer Stars and Nathi Lions rubbed South Side.

Four teams in the semi-finals had spectators glued to the action for nail-biting and enterprising play.

The first semi-final Amazion saw off with Nathi Lions. Both teams were cautious in the first opening 10 minutes as no shot was registered on target. The match grew momentum and Amazion capitalised on slope defending from Nathi Lions center-back Tshepiso Moloi scoring the opener for Amazion.

Going to the interval the Lions needed a strong motivation from the bench and that was the case as the second half saw fired up Lions. Amazion kept on intercepting the Lions transition as Lions kept on probing and seeking to create a leveler. But, their endeavour finally paid off in the last five minutes of the match as Lions were gifted a penalty and Nyathi Ngobese made no mistake by putting it beyond reach of Sihle Mpopnsite, Amazion keeper.

The game was decided on penalties and Amazion came out tops landing a seat in the final. The second semi-final was between Seven Stars and Ea Lla Koto. Ea Lla Koto won 3-0 to take on Amazion.

The final

Amazion and Ea Lla Koto both came to the match at their worst run spell in the tournament as they haven’t won any tournaments this year. Both teams showed hunger and tenacity as it was end-to-end stuff both sides creating clear-cut opportunities. Amazion were the ones penetrating Ea Ela defence. They asked lots of questions in front of goals keeping goalkeeper Neo Dlamini Ea Ela on his toes.

Ea Ela couldn’t keep up with Amazion’s attack as they opted to park a bus and log in long balls. Amazion dominated proceedings and threw men forward to score an opener but Ea Ela caught them on transition and scored a top-notch goal courtesy of Morrison Chauke. But Amazion quickly leveled matters and the match went into half-time at 1-1.

In the second half Amazion out-ruled Ea Ela in all angels but failed capitalising on their dominance as the game went straight to the lottery of penalties. Ea Ela broke their barren spell as they won 5-4 on penalties winning a full kit which was sponsored by International Revelation Congress (IRC).

GALLERY: