Tuks, Birds share points
Thabo Mosadi’s last minute equaliser secured a 1-1 draw for AmaTuks against Moraka Swallows in an Absa Premiership game at Tuks Stadium on Wednesday night after Siyabonga Nomvethe opened the scoring for Swallows in the first half.
AmaTuks coach Steve Barker made five changes to the side that lost 2-0 to Golden Arrows last week.
The University side went into the game with only one win on home soil and were in desperate need of all three points if they were to halt their slip down the table.
Swallows, on the other hand, went into the game on the back of a 1-1 draw against Ajax Cape Town.
Swallows have had a disappointing season so far and were five places under newcomers AmaTuks on the log going into the match.
Swallows had the first chance of the match in the second minute. Katlego Mashego latched onto a long ball from Isaacs, but the striker’s effort cannoned off the post.
Swallows deservedly opened the scoring in the eight minute through veteran striker Siyabonga Nomvethe. Nomvethe beat the offside trap and curled the ball past the helpless AmaTuks keeper to net his second goal of the year, 1-0.
Aubrey Ngoma forced Etafia into his first save of the math in the 19th minute of the game. The midfielder skipped past Da Costa but he couldn’t beat a rushing Etafia.
Chenene had a great chance to double his sides lead in the 25th minute but the unmarked midfielder could only manage to drag his shot past the post from the edge of the area.
AmaTuks had the last chance of the half from a free-kick but Ngoma could only manage to boot the ball over the crossbar. The half ended 1-0 in the favour of Moroka Swallows.
AmaTuks brought on Mame Niang and Mpho Matsi at the start off the half as they were keen to get back in the game. Niang scored a brace against the Dube Birds last year.
Swallows, though, started off the second half like they ended the first with Nomvethe testing Arubi from close range in the 47th minute.
Nergadze forced a brilliant save from Arubi on the hour mark. The Georgian midfielder hit a sweet strike from 30 metres out and only a fingertip save from the AmaTuks shot-stopper could deny the Dube Birds a second goal on the night.
Etafia brilliantly denied Mhwanazi in the 79th minute. The keeper stopped the defenders shot from point blank range to keep his side in the lead.
Thabo Mosadi headed in from close range in the last minute of stoppage time in the second half to secure AmaTuks ninth draw of the campaign.
The two team’s first meeting was in September last year at the Volkswagen Dobsonville Stadium. AmaTuks ran out 3-2 victors on the night.
AmaTuks (0) 1 (Mosadi 94’)
Moroka Swallows (1) 1 (Nomvethe 8’)
Teams:
AmaTuks: Arubi; Ngubane, Shoyisa, Mkhwanazi, Sibande, Ngoma, Ketjijere, Selolwane, Lubelo (Niang 45’), Shitembi (Matsi 45’- Mosadi 62’), Sekotlong
Moroka Swallows: Etafia; Da Costa, Isaacs, Lekgothoane, Nergadze, Tsutsulupa, Mapempa, Nomvethe, Chenene (Mabalane 68’), Mashego (Cohen 86’), Chabangu (Machapa 75’)
