Mbesuma hands Aces eighth win

Collins Mbesuma

A second half penalty goal from Collins Mbesuma handed MP Black Aces a slender 1-0 win over Polokwane City in an Absa Premiership match at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday night.

It was a rather dull opening first half with very few chances on goal due to wasteful play in the final third from both sides.

The home team, though, did start the more positive of the two sides with Bethuel Tukane trying his luck from just outside the box in the seventh minute, but the Aces man saw his effort go wide of the target.

In the 25th minute Tukane worked himself into some space once more, but again his shooting lacked directing and flew wide of the goal from distance.

Neither side was able to create any other clear cut chances before the halftime whistle with the game locked at 0-0.

Aces started positively in the second half and won a penalty kick in the 51st minute after the referee adjudged Sibusiso Mbonani to have handled the ball inside the box.

Collins Mbesuma stepped up and converted from the spot to give Aces the lead, 1-0.

Polokwane tried to fight their way back into the game and came close to levelling matters in the 70th minute when Puleng Tlolane fired inches wide of the target from the edge of the box.

Eight minutes later substitute Thabo Nodada should have sealed victory for the home team, but the Aces man wasted a glorious goal scoring chance by shooting wide after being put through on goal by Judas Moseamedi.

Polokwane pushed hard to find an equaliser, but were unable to do so as Aces registered their eighth win of the league season.

The win sees Aces up to second on the log with 27 points, only behind league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns on goal difference.

MP Black Aces (0) 1 (Mbesuma 52’ pen)

Polokwane City (0) 0

Teams

Aces: Walters, Moon, Mzava, Ngalo, Nonyane, Manyama, Khuboni, Matsi, Tukane (Modiba 46’), Mbesuma (Nodada 72’), S. Masina (Moseamedi 64’).

City: Chigova, Tema, Barends, Mbonani, Masenamela (Shiba 82’), Motumi, Maluleke, Nzimande (Kanyenda 62’), Alexander, Mncwango (Jacobs 61’), Tlolane.