Goal-dry weekend for SA stars, as Carnell’s fine MLS run continues
It was a goal-dry weekend for SA stars playing outside the country, with coach Bradley Carnell keeping his fine start in the Major League Soccer [MLS].
None of the SA stars managed to score over the weekend. Bafana Bafana marksman Lyle Foster played 67 minutes as Burnley FC lost 3-0 to be booted out of England’s FA Cup. Preston progressed to the FA Cup quarterfinals courtesy of goals from Robbie Brady, Milutin Osmajic and Will Keane.
In Cyprus, Mihlali Mayambela was on parade in the first half as Aris Limassol beat APOEL FC 3-0 on Saturday.
He was withdrawn after 45 minutes of play. In addition, former Cape Town City FC star Gift Links was not in the squad as his Aarhus GF drew 1-1 with Randers FC in Denmark on Friday.
MOKWENA’S WYDAD AC DROP POINTS
Moreso, in Morocco, Rulani Mokwena and his Wydad AC dropped key points and ultimately failed to close the points gap between them and RS Berkane.
After 23 games, they are 15 points behind RS Berkane, who have 56 points on their tally. Wydad AC are second on the log table with 41 points. On Friday, Mokwena started Cassius Mailula and on-loan attacker Thembinkosi Lorch in the match against the log leaders.
However, they were both subdued, and the match ended 0-0.
In Tunisia, Bafana winger Elias Mokwana was not in the matchday squad as Esperance beat Gabes 2-0 on Saturday. The win saw the Tunisian giants cement their place on top of the country’s elite league.
In Egypt, 27-year-old striker Fagrie Lakay played 84 minutes as Ceramica Cleopatra FC beat Petrojet FC 4-1 on Friday. Lakay is on loan from Pyramids
Meanwhile, former Cape Town City FC forward Khanyisa Mayo and his CR Belouizdad were not in action this weekend. CR Belouizdad will be in action on Thursday in an Algerian Ligue 1 match.
COACH BRADLEY CARNELL CONTINUES HIS RICH VEIN OF FORM IN THE MLS
In the Major League Soccer [MLS], Bafana winger Bongokuhle Hlongwane was in action as Minnesota United recorded their first win in the 2025 season on Sunday.
They won 1-0, with Kelvin Yeboah’s 69th-minute strike ensuring they sealed the win. The former Maritzburg United forward played for 87 minutes before being substituted.
Additionally, in the Eastern Conference, South African coach Bradley Carnell kept his good start at the helm of Philadelphia Union after beating Teenage Hadebe’s FC Cincinnati on Sunday.
They won 4-1, with former Stellenbosch defender Oluwethu Makhanya keeping his position in the team. Similarly 20-year-old played the whole match for Union. Their first match in the 2025 season ended in a 4-2 win over Orlando City.
In addition, Percy Tau played 88 minutes as his Qatar SC settled for a 2-2 draw with Umm Salal at home, the Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium.
Furthermore, former Kaizer Chiefs defender Siyabonga Ngezana was introduced late in the second half. Additionally, he played two minutes as FCSB played out to a 0-0 draw with Rapid București at the National Arena in Romania on Sunday.
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