Milford FC secured a 5-1 victory over Richards Bay in the Premier Soccer League with Siphosethu Ndlabi converting a penalty in the 28th minute. M Zikakayo added two goals before the hour, scoring in the 45+1st and 54th minutes to put the visitors 3-0 up at halftime.
Phakamani Jwara extended the lead in the 84th minute with an assist from J Gxakoshe, who then completed the scoring in the 90+2nd minute with an assist from M Mkhize. Richards Bay’s only goal came from M Mthembu, though the timing of that goal is not specified in the match data.
Lindokuhle Sphuzo Zikhali of Richards Bay received a red card in the 24th minute for violent conduct, leaving the home side to play over an hour with ten men. Milford FC made four second-half substitutions, including Sicelo Masilela replacing Ndlabi at 62’ and Tonny Likhona Mbunga coming on for Zikakayo at 63’.
Milford FC dominated possession with 62% and recorded 13 shots, seven on target, compared to Richards Bay’s 11 shots and three on target. Both teams had six corners, but Milford committed 11 fouls to Richards Bay’s 13, while Richards Bay had no offsides against Milford’s five.
The result leaves Richards Bay FC 13th in the Premier Soccer League on three points from five games, with a recent form of LLDDD, zero wins, three draws, and two defeats. They have scored six goals and conceded eight this season, sitting 17 points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.
Richards Bay will look to rebound in their next fixture as they aim to improve on a difficult start to the campaign.
The 5-1 defeat to Milford FC took place at the Sugar Ray Xulu stadium in Durban. The result leaves Richards Bay 14th in the Premier Soccer League with three points from six games, having scored seven goals and conceded 13 this season.
Richards Bay coach Ronnie Gabriel said there was no need to panic despite his team's winless start to the season. Gabriel told the media the 5-1 defeat to Milford FC was decided by an early red card and penalty. "The red card decided the game, so the penalty decision put us on the backfoot," Gabriel said. The result leaves Richards Bay 14th in the Premier Soccer League with three points from six games, having scored seven goals and conceded 13.
Richards Bay's consolation goal in the 5-1 defeat to Milford FC was scored by Mehluleli Ndelu in the 77th minute. The goal came after the team made a double substitution at halftime. The loss leaves Richards Bay 14th in the Premier Soccer League with three points from six games, having scored seven goals and conceded 13 this season.
