Matshingana downs Rangers to edge Midrand’s Spoilers to top four
Spoilers are now sitting on position four of the league table, equal with the third-ranked team, Prestige Football Academy, with 36 points, as Prestage has a game in hand.
Sibusiso Matshingana scored a stoppage-time winner as Midrand-based Spoilers FC came from behind to beat Rangers FC 2–1 in a Johannesburg Men’s Regional League encounter on April 13.
Alexandra Stadium played host to the match and Rangers almost took the lead in the 15th minute but Oetello Pilo was blocked from six yards by Spoliers’ Mxolise Simelane, who reacted quickly following a mistake from Spoliers’ skipper Lukhanyo Mapeyi.
Despite having most of the ball possession in the opening quarter of the match, Spoilers were unable to break through Rangers’ well-organised defence.
Mmolai Matome put Rangers ahead on 30 minutes with a tap-in goal after he took an excellent onside run following a loop pass from Mabipi Mothapo.
In response, Spoilers equalised shortly afterwards through Thabiso Ramoadi whose attempt crept under the right arm of the Rangers’ keeper Vusi Mashele following an in-swinging free-kick.
Avuyile Mancasa was just inches away from scoring a second for the visitors when Mashele saved his rising shot at the near post. Toward the end of the first half, Rangers had two shots going wide by Itumeleng Molepo and Velaphi Mabuza.
Ramoadi made a huge block to divert Mabuza’s 55th-minute shot before Spoilers’ deadly striker Gilbert Mathosa saw an effort that went wide.
Rangers were battling hard for a winner but failed to find it as their best effort in the second half came from Matome’s curling effort that hit the crossbar on 83 minutes.
Spoilers, however, stayed strong, and late into stoppage time, Mathosa took a long run from the centre to the opposition’s 18-yard box and laid a sitter on for Matshingana to slot home, leaving Mashele begging for mercy.
Spoilers are now sitting in fourth position with 36 points on the league table, equal on points with Prestige Football Academy who have a game in hand.
Rangers remain in sixth place in the league table on 31 points and they will play Donchester on April 23 at Davidsonville Stadium.
