Hlongwane edges Blom as Bafana Bafana stars clash in MLS

It was an all-South African football affair in the MLS on Sunday morning as two Bafana Bafana stars, Bongokuhle Hlongwane and Njabulo Blom clashed for the first time.

Hlongwane and Blom went up against each other as Minnesota United edged St Louis City 1-0 at City Park.

Hlongwane’s Minnesota are the first team to beat Blom’s Louis City this season, ending their perfect start to the season.

St LOUIS CITY’S UNBEATEN RUN BROKEN

Louis City, who are coached by South African tactician Bradley Carnell, have been the on-form team in the league this season.

They had been unbeaten in their first five matches, collecting 15 points in the process, the most by a new team in the league at that point of the campaign.

However, they came unstuck against Hlongwane’s Minnesota, who were determined to bring them back down to earth.

Hlongwane was once again a starter for his team and played the full match, as he has done for his side in most of their matches so far this season.

The South African, however, couldn’t get on the scoresheet with Paraguayan striker Luis Amarilla scoring the winner from the spot.

NJABULO BLOM OFF THE BENCH

Blom, meanwhile, made another substitute appearance for Louis City, coming on in the 59th minute for midfielder Jared Stroud.

The former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder is slowly building up his fitness agains after missing a few games due to illness last month.

Blom was also forced to pull out of Hugo Broos’ Bafana Bafana squad that recently did battle with Liberia in AFCON qualifiers home and away.

Carnell seems to be easing the Soweto-born midfield workhorse back into the team having also made a brief appearance from the bench in their 4-0 thumping of Real Salt Lake.

Despite suffering their first defeat of the season, Carnell’s side remain at the top of the table in the Eastern Conference with 15 points from six matches.

Hlongwane’s Minnesota climbed to fourth of the table with 11 points from their six matches so far, four adrift of leaders Louis City.

Louis City will hope to bounce back to winning ways when they face second-placed Seattle Saunders at Lumen Field next Sunday.

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