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HomeBetway PremiershipNtiya-Ntiya Rocket Stuns Truter & Middendorp

Ntiya-Ntiya Rocket Stuns Truter & Middendorp

Sekhukhune United head coach Brandon Truter and his Swallows counterpart Ernst Middendorp clapped hands for Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya’s stunning goal, in their DStv Premiership tie in Polokwane on Friday. 

The former Kaizer Chiefs left-back was starting his first game under Truter and he scored a beauty from 40 yards out in the second half separating the sides and extending Ba Bina Noko’s winning streak to four games in a row. 

The wonder strike was Ntiya-Ntiya’s first professional goal and it is already being tipped to be a Goal of the Season contender.

The win pushed Sekhukhune up to fourth spot on the standings with 24 points from 17 matches, while the Dube Birds slipped to 15th spot with 17 points from as many outings – Truter gave credit to his defense department for the goal and the clean sheet on the night. 

“Coming out second half we anticipated that Middendorp might, Swallows might change their formation but we wanted to continue on the front foot, as well,” Truter said.

“When he didn’t change, we managed to get into the half spaces in front of their defenders and that gave them some problems.

“And we packed the full-backs inside a bit higher and Ntiya-Ntiya managed to pick up the second ball and what a goal. 

“I think after that, and this is where we need to improve when taking the lead, we started doing things that are unlike us, we started kicking the position away, giving it away cheaply, and then the opponent got back into the game and all of a sudden we looked under pressure.

“Then they changed their information and we reverted back also to inverted full-backs and then they managed to get a few chances on the counter. But it’s another clean sheet for the defence and they also scored the goal tonight, so well done to them.” 

Meanwhile Middendorp says the goal should be nominated for an award. 

“Yeah, I think it was a wonderful shot, probably a shot like this was necessary for them to get the result,” the German stated.

“We had Malinga on the other side with a similar shot. I think we had more shots on target, four to three shots in general and on a bigger higher note. But in the end we have not scored.

“We have to process this fantastic goal. I think probably it will go into at least Goal of the Month if not the Goal of the Season [contention].”

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