Lioli beat Mzamane 2:0 in the Premier League Regular Season on Saturday, a result that keeps the hosts firmly in the hunt for the top four. The match took place at the Lioli stadium on September 5th, with the home side taking all three points from a contest where they controlled the tempo from the opening whistle.
By then, Lioli had already shown their consistency. Three games in, they sat third on seven points from two wins and a draw, and this victory extended that unbeaten run. Mzamane, meanwhile, found themselves further adrift in 11th after their defeat left them on three points from a single win.
And here's the thing about Lioli this season — they do not travel to make up the numbers. At home they had already beaten Linare 3:2 before holding LDF to a 2:2 draw. Mzamane's away form told a different story entirely, with heavy defeats to Lidjabato and stiff losses elsewhere keeping them well off the pace.
To be fair, Mzamane had shown they could compete. Their 1:0 win over Villa earlier in the campaign proved they were not entirely out of their depth. But the 0:8 thrashing at Lidjabato's hands had exposed vulnerabilities that Lioli were happy to exploit on this occasion.
The result means Lioli now sit four points clear of the teams around them, with home advantage still working in their favour. Mzamane face a busy period to climb out of the lower reaches, and the gap between the sides — eight points — is starting to look uncomfortable.