Worrying times for Jomo Cosmos

Sello Rabothata

Sello Rabothata

Now Jomo Cosmos have to be worried ... very worried!

This follows their 2-1 defeat at the hands of fellow strugglers Thanda Royal Zulu in an Absa Premiership game played at the Ackerville stadium in Emalahleni at the weekend.

From the positions the two teams started the game in - Royal Zulu in 15th place and Cosmos 16th - one would have expected a humdinger of a game, considering the match was a six-pointer.

While Ezenkosi team manager Andrew "Jaws of Life" Rabutla believes there is no need to panic, that statement is not enough to reassure the team's faithful as the team plunged to its sixth defeat so far. With only two wins and seven draws in the campaign, things don't look so promising unless something dramatic happens.

Royal Zulu were also not a team brimming with confidence, though they did what matters most: scoring the goals that secured the three points.

Both teams upped a gear in the second half with David Botha sending Royal Zulu into a 1-0 lead on 57 minutes with an unstoppable shot that goalkeeper Avril Phali could do nothing about.

That goal seemed to be what Cosmos had been waiting for as they equalised three minutes later through Geoffrey Massa who tapped in the easiest of chances after being brilliantly set up by Bamuza Sono who had followed up on a free kick that caught the Royal Zulu defence and Lance Niewenhuis ball watching.

Both sides made changes in this half with Sibusiso Hadebe coming in for Bongi Macala for Cosmos and Godfrey Mahlangu replacing the injured Thapelo Tshilo. Royal Zulu brought in Clement Mazibuko for Katlego Loke and the balding Ishmael Maluleke for Serge Djiehoua.

Djiehoua had made a contribution to the second goal in that his fierce attempt at goal had been deflected for a corner by Phali. It was from this corner kick that Bernard Parker rose above everyone and headed in the winner.

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