Ndlovu hat-trick sparks riots in Swaziland

Ndlovu hat-trick sparks riots in Swaziland

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By Agencies

Swaziland........ 0
Zimbabwe........ 5

CAPTAIN Peter Ndlovu scored a hat-trick for Zimbabwe as they thrashed Swaziland 5-0 in a Cosafa Castle Cup quarter-final tie in Mbabane on Sunday.

But the game was abandoned by Mozambican referee Mateus Infante seven minutes from time when angry Swazi fans threw missiles at their team's bench.

An assortment of objects - mostly beer cans and rocks - rained down on the Swazi bench after Zimbabwe's fifth goal.

Police then fought running battles with fans who sought to attack their own team after a disappointing performance that also saw Swaziland also squander a second-half penalty.

Tournament officials warned after the match that Swaziland could face a one-year suspension from the annual southern African championship.

The violent end marred a polished performance by Zimbabwe - the defending champions.

Ndlovu's hat-trick was only the second in the eight-year history of the tournament and the first for Zimbabwe since Vitalis Takawira scored three against Cameroon in 1995.

Zimbabwe should have taken the lead as early as the third minute when Tinashe Nengomasha, recently named Footballer of the Year in South Africa, had a goal inexplicably ruled out by the referee.

But the Warriors seized the initiative after seven minutes when Ndlovu chipped the ball perfectly onto the head of Edzai Kasinauyo, marking his return to the team after a three-year absence.

Ndlovu got the second - his first - just before the break, tapping in unmarked at the back post after a square pass from Newton Ben Katanha.

Joel Luphahla set up the third after the interval when his square pass was turned into his own goal by Swazi defender Bongani Masangane.

Ndlovu then claimed his second with Kasinauyo the provider, turning the ball back into the path of the Zimbabwean captain.

Ndlovu saved the best for last with a mazy run from almost the halfway line, twisting and turning Swazi defenders before stroking the ball home.

The goal came just after Tapuwa Kapini had saved a penalty from Lwazi Masiya after Dumisani Mpofu had handled the ball inside the box.

Zimbabwe now join Mozambique in the semi-finals with two more quarter-final matches still to be played.
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