Eswatini international Neliswa Dlamini scored a Goal of the Season contender at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday, capping a man-of-the-match performance as Hardrock made light work of Bulawayo Chiefs to soar to the top of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League standings.
The midfielder’s brilliant 31st-minute strike left Chiefs goalkeeper Tino Chaviringa completely stranded.
Collecting a loose ball outside the box, Dlamini showed exquisite technique and positioning to unleash a powerful, curling beauty into the top corner for Hardrock’s second of the afternoon.
The opening goal arrived after just 12 minutes when Washington Navaya converted his sixth penalty of the season.
Hardrock were awarded the spot-kick after Bulawayo Chiefs failed to clear a Junior Makunike corner in the ninth minute. Dlamini pounced on the loose ball, only for his goal-bound effort to be blocked on the line by a Chiefs defender's hand.
Navaya stepped up and drilled the ball past Chaviringa, who dived the right way but was beaten by pure pace.
Hardrock controlled the match from the first whistle to the last. Had they been more clinical in front of goal, they could have easily harvested an avalanche of goals in both halves.
Hardrock coach Kelvin Kaindu was full of praise for Dlamini, who walked away with the Lucky Bets Man of the Match award.
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"He is a vital player for us. Sometimes it feels like he is two players in one because of the incredible work rate he gives us both going forward and tracking back. He is almost the complete player," Kaindu said.
"Before the match, we challenged him. We told him you can’t play 12 games without a goal. He promised he would score today, and he responded with a beautiful strike. He fully deserved the Man of the Match award."
Kaindu was also pleased with how his side bounced back from Wednesday’s defeat to Highlanders.
"It’s great to see the team respond like this. We scored two goals, kept a clean sheet, and handled the travel well. We also created several other chances that could have boosted our goal difference," he added.
On the other side, Bulawayo Chiefs coach John Nyikadzino admitted his midfield duo of Melikhaya Ncube and Maxwell Murimi was completely outclassed by Hardrock's efficient combination of Munashe Bhamara, Dlamini, Junior Makunike, and Sambulo Simelane.
"They dominated the midfield and controlled the first half. Our clearances lacked distance and height, and we paid the price. While we did manage to get into the final third at times, our decision-making let us down," Nyikadzino conceded.
With this victory, Hardrock move to 27 points—level with CAPS United, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Simba Bhora. However, Hardrock now lead the Premier Soccer League standings courtesy of a superior goal difference.
