Thembinkosi Lorch continues to make his presence felt at Al-Ittihad SC. The South African playmaker provided a key assist in their weekend victory, serving as a rare bright spot on a weekend where most Mzansi stars abroad faced difficult outings.
In the English Premier League, Lyle Foster was introduced in the second half as Burnley suffered a 4-3 loss at home, Turf Moor, on Saturday. Foster was also yellow-carded in the match.
Meanwhile, the duo Luke Le Roux and Tylon Smith remain benchwarmers at Portsmouth and Queens Park Rangers FC in the English Championship. Le Roux was on the bench as Portsmouth FC lost 1-0 to Hull City at Fratton Park on Saturday. Smith was also benched as QPR lost 2-0 to Sheffield United at Loftus Road.
LORCH, LAKAY PROVIDE ASSISTS FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE TEAMS
Former Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates star Thembinkosi Lorch registered an assist for Al-Ittihad SC in their Libyan Premier League win, as they beat Abelashhar 2-0 on Saturday, in a match played at GMR Stadium.
Ex-Cape Town City FC star Fagrie Lakay provided an assist for Ceramica Cleopatra FC as they secured a 1-1 draw against Wadi Degla on Saturday in an Egyptian Premier League match played at Petrosport Stadium in Cairo. Lakay now boasts five goals and four assists in the league, after 19 matches, with Ceramica Cleopatra FC fourth in the standings.
In the Cypriot First Division, Luther Singh lasted 56 minutes, while Thapelo Maseko lasted 74 minutes for AEL Limassol in their narrow 3-2 defeat at the hands of APOEL FC at Alphamega Stadium. Meanwhile, Mihlali Mayambela’s Omonoia FC will face Apollon Limassol FC on Monday evening at the GSP Stadium.
In the Major League Soccer [MLS], former PSL players Bongokuhle Hlongwane and Teenage Hadebe clashed in a match played at Allianz Field on Saturday. Hlongwane’s Minnesota United FC beat Hadebe’s FC Cincinnati 1-0. Both players lasted 90 minutes for their respective clubs.
MBOKAZI KEEPS IMPRESSING IN MLS
In addition, Mbekezeli Mbokazi delivered a commanding performance as he played 90 minutes as Chicago Fire thumped CF Montréal 3-0 in an MLS match played at Soldier Field on Saturday.
On Monday morning, coach Bradley Carnell’s MLS side, Philadelphia Union, suffered a 2-1 loss at home, Subaru Park, to New York City. SA defender Olwethu Makhanya was solid for Union, playing 90 minutes, but got red-carded in stoppage time.
In the Belgian Pro League, Shandre Campbell was on the bench as Club Brugge beat Royal Charleroi 2-1 at the Stade du Pays de Charleroi on Sunday. Sphephelo Sithole was not in the team as CD Tondela drew 2-2 with Santa Clara at Estádio João Cardoso in Liga Portugal on Sunday night.
SA star Percy Tau came on in the 76th minute for Nam Dinh as they beat Ninh Binh 3-2 in a Vietnam V.League match played at Thiên Truong Stadium on Sunday. They are now 10th in the 14-team league. In addition, Ethan Brooks was introduced in the second half as Panserraikos lost 2-1 to Olympiacos in the Greek Super League match played at Dimotiko Stadio Serron.
Furthermore, Gift Links lasted 67 minutes for AGF in their 2-1 win over Vejle BK at the Vejle Stadium. This was a Danish Superliga match played on Sunday.
In the Austrian Bundesliga, ex- Kaizer Chiefs captain Yusuf Maart played 66 minutes while Antonio van Wyk lasted 75 minutes for SV Ried in their 2-1 loss to Grazer AK in a match played at the Liebenauer Stadium on Sunday.
BAFANA STARS MISS CHANCE TO SQUARE OFF IN SAUDI ARABIA
In the Saudi Pro League, it was a clash of Bafana Bafana stars as Elias Mokwana’s Al-Hazem faced Mohau Nkota’s Al-Ettifaq. Al-Hazem beat Al-Ettifaq 3-1 at the Al Hazm Club Stadium on Friday. Mokwana was not in the team, while Nkota was introduced late in the second half.
In the Saudi First Division, Ranga Chivaviro will be in action on Monday night when Al-Adalah Club host Al-Faisaly at Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium. Rushine De Reuck was in the starting team as Steve Barker’s Simba SC played out to a 0-0 draw with Young Africans at Amaan Stadium on Sunday evening. Neo Maema was on the bench.
Rulani Mokwena’s MC Alger played out to a 0-0 draw with JS Kabylie in Algerian Ligue 1 played at Stade Ali-la-Pointe. Mokwena’s charges will be in action on Tuesday in the Algeria Cup quarter-finals against CR Belouizdad at Nelson Mandela Stadium.
Coach Fadlu Davids’ Raja CA got the better of HUSA on Monday morning, winning 1-0 in a Moroccan Botola Pro 1 match played at Stade Adrar.
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