Madibaz back in mix for playoffs

NMMU moved up to third place on the Varsity Football standings with a 3-0 victory over Limpopo in Port Elizabeth last night.

The hosts scored all three of their goals in the second half to give their playoff hopes a major boost, while newcomers Limpopo are still yet to record their first victory in the competition.

The opening exchanges were tense as the team felt each other out without creating very many clear-cut opportunities on goal.

NMMU were dominating possession as they kept Limpopo on the back foot, so the visitors were forced to rely on counter-attacks.

Neither goalkeeper had too much work to do as the teams battled for possession in midfield and, although the Madibaz had the better of the chances before half time, the match was goalless at the break.

NMMU took the game to the visitors at the start of the second half as they went in search of the opening goal, with Lukhanyo Rasmeni running hard at the Limpopo defence.

The team from the far north were looking solid defensively, but were not able to create much of an attacking threat as NMMU kept control of the match.

The deadlock was finally broken by prolific NMMU striker Kieran Koert who took advantage of some sloppy defending from Limpopo, and they had their second soon afterwards when Onela Beqezi floated the ball into the top right corner.

They were not done there, and it was soon 3-0 as a square ball from Koert was turned into the net by Simamkele Thobi.

That put the finishing touch on a dominant second-half performance which put NMMU right back in the mix for a place in the playoffs.