Bafana Bafana star Sphephelo Sithole scored his first goal of the season as SA coaches, Bradley Carnell, Fadlu Davids and Rulani Mokwena shone over the weekend.
Sithole scored a 63rd-minute goal for Portuguese side CD Tondela as they beat Santa Clara 2-1 in the league. The match was played at the Estádio de São Miguel on Saturday. The lanky midfielder played the entire 90 minutes in what was his fifth game of the season for CD Tondela.
CD Tondela broke the deadlock on the hour mark through Pedro do Santos. The lead was doubled almost instantly, with Sithole netting his goal just three minutes later. Santa Clara’s only response came late, as Marcus Wendel converted a penalty in the 76th minute for a consolation goal.
In England, striker Lyle Foster was at the receiving end as Burnley FC suffered a 5-1 beating at the hands of Manchester City. The match was played on Saturday at the Etihad Stadium.
Manchester City secured a decisive victory primarily thanks to Erling Haaland’s brace and a stroke of luck from the opposition. City’s 5-1 win over Burnley was heavily aided by two own goals scored inadvertently by Maxime Esteve. Matheus Nunes added the fifth for City, while Jaidon Anthony scored Burnley’s lone consolation goal.
Meanwhile, in the English Championship, Luke Le Roux started for Portsmouth FC in their 2-1 defeat against Ipswich Town FC at Portman Road on Saturday. Le Roux was substituted in the 62nd minute.
MASSIVE WIN FOR SA COACH BRADLEY CARNELL IN THE MLS
In the Major League Soccer [MLS] Western Conference, Bongokuhle Hlongwane played 90 minutes as Minnesota played out to a 1-1 draw with Colorado FC. The match was played at the DSG Park on Sunday morning. Unlike in previous matches where he played as a right-back, Hlongwane was deployed as the main striker. However, he could not score.
In the Eastern Conference, Bradley Carnell led his Philadelphia Union to a massive 6-0 win over DC United on Sunday morning at Audi Park. SA defender Olwethu Makhanya was on parade throughout the match.
They were powered by a brace from Indiana Vassilev and key goals from Mikael Uhre, Milan Iloski, and Bruno Damiani. William Antley scored an own goal to aid Philadelphia Union’s cause. In the USL Championship, Jamie Webber lasted 81 minutes as his FC Tulsa lost 2-1 to Indy Eleven at the Michael A. Carroll Stadium on Sunday.
Yusuf Maart and Antonio Van Wyk started as SV Ried played out to a 0-0 draw with Grazer AK at Keine Sorgen Arena in an Austrian Bundesliga match on Saturday. Maart played the whole match while Van Wyk was withdrawn after 72 minutes.
In Romania, Siyabonga Ngezana played the whole match as FCSB beat ASC Otelul Galatas 1-0 at The National Arena on Sunday. Another Bafana Bafana star, Samukelo Kabini, played the entire match as Norwegian Eliteserien outfit Molde FK beat Valerenga 4-1. The match was played at the Aker Stadium on Sunday.
FADLU DAVIDS IN WINNING START AT RAJA CASABLANCA AS RULANI MOKWENA GUIDES MC ALGER PAST LIBERIAN OPPOSITION
Former Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena ensured MC Alger progressed to the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League. MC Alger beat Liberia’s FC Fassell 3-0 on Saturday at the Ali La Pointe Stadium in Douera. The first leg of the first preliminary round ended 0-0 in Monrovia, Liberia.
Additionally, Fadlu Davids began his second tenure at Raja Casablanca on a winning note. He helped Raja register a 2-0 win over Difaâ El Jadidi at the Stade Ahmed Choukri on Sunday. In another Morocco Botola Pro 1 tie, Thembinkosi Lorch was on parade for 86 minutes as Wydad AC beat Renaissance Zemamra 3-1. The match was played at the Mohammed V Stadium on Sunday night.
In Tanzania, Rushine De Reuck was in the team as Simba SC booked their place in the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League. They were held to a 1–1 draw by Gaborone United in Dar es Salaam on Sunday. They progressed after managing a 2–1 win on aggregate, having won the first leg. Neo Maema was on the bench.
Furthermore, the exciting Mohau Nkota played 59 minutes for Al Ettifaq. He provided an assist as they beat Damac FC 3-1 in the Saudi Pro League on Friday night. The match was played at the Dhamak Club Stadium.
In addition, Elias Mokwana was introduced after 68 minutes of play as Al Hazem lost 2-0 to Al Ahli Saudi at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium. Defender Ime Okon started the match and played 34 minutes as Hannover 96 registered a 3-1 win over Arminia on Sunday at the HDI-Arena in a Bundesliga 2 match. He was replaced by Hendry Blank due to injury.
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