Mihlali Mayambela was on target as Aris Limassol beat Luther Singh’s AEL Limassol 4-0 in a Cypriot First Division Derby showdown at the Alphamega Stadium on Sunday.
Mayambela struck in the 56th minute to add on to Vljko Nikolic’s opener eight minutes earlier. Jaden Montnor then furthered hosts Aris’ advantage just after the hour mark before Nikolic returned to complete his brace with six minutes remaining.
Forgotten striker Singh played the entire match but could not help his side avoid the big defeat. Mayambela did not finish the match and was substituted five minutes after he scored.
With the win, Aris climbed one place up the log to position three to keep themselves in the running to win the league title they clinched for the first time at the end of the 2022/23 season.
They have two points fewer than log leaders Pafos FC after seven rounds of matches in the season. Singh’s AEL are 10th in the 14-team league with five points more than basement side Paralimi.
GETTING BACK INTO BROOS’ BAFANA BAFANA SQUAD
Mayambela’s goal was his first of the season in eight games across all competitions. The 29-year-old winger has also provided one assist. He has lost his place in the Bafana Bafana set up and would want to use Sunday’s performance as a launch pad for more impressive outings.
That would likely attract the attention of Hugo Broos to bring him back into the national side he was with at the 2023 AFCON finals.
Singh, on the other hand, also has a goal and an assist in seven games and has never played under Broos. After playing at the 2018 and 2019 COSAFA tournaments for Bafana, Singh was on the rise and knocking on the first team.
But he struggled to fulfil the promise he showed despite a club career in Europe, just like Mayambela who has never played PSL football.
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