MT Green Mambas booked a place in the semifinal stage of the prestigious Mulindavhathu Soccer Challenge by beating Makonde Young Tigers 3-1 at the Khubvi Tshiseluselu grounds on Saturday.

Both sides played 70 minutes of the game with 10 men. This after Israel Mukununde of Green Mambas and Aluwani Munyai of Young Tigers were given their marching orders in the 20th minute. What started as a small argument between Mukununde and Munyai gave rise to a fistfight and the referee, Mr Chris Mugeri, did not hesitate to send them off.

It took Young Tigers 14 minutes to realize that it was not their day. Their centre forward, Moses Mutwanamba, forced his way through the defence of Mambas and shot wide with the keeper already beaten. The scoreboard was still asking for numbers when the teams adjourned for half time.

Green Mambas were the first to blow the trumpet. Pfarelo Randima received a neat pass from Rofhiwa Nekhumbe and blasted in a rocket from the edge of the box. Lufuno Mulondo of Young Tigers was booked for a late tackle on Unarine Matodzi in the 54th minute.

The wheel of fortune turned against Young Tigers again in the 59th minute. Green Mambas increased the margin via Kholwani Nemanashi, who scored with a header after a corner kick that was taken by Zwivhuya Sikhwari. Green Mambas did not stop fighting, despite the fact that their playmaker, Russel Munyai, was reprimanded with a card in the 67th minute.

He obstructed Aluwani Munyai just outside the penalty box. Green Mambas replaced Rofhiwa Nekhumbe with Itani Sikhipha two minutes later. They put matters beyond doubt in the 74th minute when Unarine Matodzi hooked in a loose ball after a scramble within the box.

The Tigers’ solitary goal came via Oriel Mulovhedzi six minutes before the final whistle.