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Matchday 12 - Report

Thanda Royal Zulu FC 2 - Free State Stars 3

DURBAN, December 14 (Absa Premier League) – Duncan Lechesa scored a late goal to help Free State Stars fight from two goals down to beat 10-man Thanda Royal Zulu 3-2 in their Absa Premier League clash on Sunday.
The Ea Lla Koto midfielder blasted home in the 89th minute to complete his hat-trick after goals from Clement Mazibuko and Felix Obada had put the hosts two goals in front inside the opening half-hour at the Mpumalanga Stadium in Hammarsdale.
But the visitors hit back with two penalties from captain Lechesa in a crazy two minute spell on the stroke of half-time, before Sibusiso Hadebe was dismissed for a bad tackle on Johnathan Mensah allowing Stars to clinch all the points at the death.
The early stages were dominated by Roger Palmgren’s men with Tonic Chabalala and Mazibuko both coming close, before the latter headed in a 17th minute opener from a fine right-wing cross by Obada.
Tonic Chabalala was next to come close with his effort from a free-kick well held by Kennedy Mweene in the Stars goal.
At the other end, Aubrey Mathibe was tested for the first time when Sthembiso Ngcobo headed Mensah’s free-kick straight at the goalkeeper.
Bernard Parker then tried his luck from the edge of the penalty area and the ball was again easily gathered by Mweene
But the Zambian could do nothing to stop Obada’s cracking 18-yard shot which flew into the bottom left-hand corner after a well played pass from July Mahlangu.
However, the lead was halved in the 43rd minute when Siyabonga Mfeka fouled Saitjheni Tsotetsi in the penalty area and Lechesa completed the spot-kick to give his side hope.
And that hope was realised in first-half stoppage time when Musa Nyatama brought down Thamane Motaung this time and the Stars skipper made no mistake with completing his second.
Early in the second half, Madidilani forced Mweene to punch away his drifting free-kick, before Mahlangu and Mazibuko wastefully shot over.
Hadebe then came in badly on Ghanaian Mensah and was dismissed as Stars gained the numerical advantage.
However, the Amabhubesi still fought bravely Muhammed, Mazibuko and substitute Nkosinathi Nhleko all testing the opposition goalkeeper as our boys piled on the pressure.
And just as it looked like the points would be shared, Ruben Cloete played in Lechesa on the left side of the penalty area and the midfielder secured all the points with his shot high into the goal.