DELMAS – Young Guns United FC scored seven second-half goals to beat Vukuzenzele United Palace FC 9–2 in their Hollywoodbets SAB League match at Vukuzenzele Ground on Saturday.

The sides were level at 2–2 at half-time after Vukuzenzele twice fought back to cancel out Young Guns’ lead.

The match changed after the break when Young Guns coach Innocent Gift Mabena made five substitutions, introducing more attacking players, including first-choice striker Mfundo Msiza.

Msiza went on to score a hat-trick as Young Guns took control of the match.

“I expected a win with a good score, not necessarily such a heavy score,” Mabena told Highveld Chronicle.

The coach was unhappy with his side’s defending in the first half.

“I was livid with how we conceded the goals. They were cheap and too easy,” he said.

Young Guns grew in confidence after the interval, finding more space and putting Vukuzenzele under sustained pressure.

Msiza led the scoring with three goals, while Tshepo Thwahlane, known as “Pedri”, scored once and provided two assists.

Senior winger Mxolisi Mnguni scored twice and set up two goals. Samkelo, Mshosta and Karabo also found the back of the net.

Mabena credited captain Vilakazi Andries, known as “Nyasha”, with helping turn the game after coming on.

“The key was the introduction of our captain Vilakazi Andries (Nyasha). He came in and stabilised our midfield and allowed our attacking players to flourish and be creative,” he said.

Mabena said the result was a collective effort involving the entire squad.

“It was a team win. The coordination between the players and myself as a coach was good, and even the substitutes were supporting the players on the field,” he said.

The nine-goal performance suggested that Young Guns’ work on finishing is beginning to pay off. Mabena said the team often creates chances but has struggled to convert them.

“We have been working on our finishing. We always, in most cases, dominate our games but fail to convert the numerous chances we create. This is what we have been working on,” he said.

The coach said Young Guns’ ambition was to compete and encouraged his players to believe in the club’s vision.

“Our vision is simple. We want to compete. We are here to compete,” Mabena said.

He added that discipline remained important, particularly arriving on time for training and matches and ensuring a full squad was available.

For Vukuzenzele, the heavy defeat highlighted problems the club is trying to address.

Coach Sello Midise said the absence of several players had affected the team’s performance.

“We lost many players and that is why we failed to win games. I am trying to solve this problem,” Midise said.

He also attributed some of the team’s difficulties to poor player attendance.

“According to me, we conceded these goals because of a lack of player attendance, and I am working hard to solve the problem,” he said.

Despite the defeat, Midise believes Vukuzenzele can recover.

“9-2 is not the end of the season. In the next game I will make sure we win and the players will work hard in the gym to rebuild our dignity,” he said.

Young Guns will look to build on their emphatic victory, while Vukuzenzele will aim to put the defeat behind them and return to winning ways.