Birds complete double over Downs
Siyabonga Nomvethe’s 37th minute penalty secured victory for Swallows over a 10-man Mamelodi Sundowns side in an Absa Premiership game at Loftus Stadium on Tuesday night.
Sundowns went into the game on the back of an eight-game unbeaten streak. The Brazilians’ last game was two weeks ago against Ajax Cape Town in the Nedbank Cup. The Tshwane side ran out 1-0 winners in that encounter and were eager to continue climbing up the table.
Moroka Swallows, on the other hand, went into the came on the back of a weekend defeat to KwaZulu-Natal side AmaZulu in the Absa Premiership. The Dube Birds were keen to do the double over the Tshwane side after beating them 2-0 in the league last year.
Sundowns started the game off the brightest with Anthony Laffor splitting the Swallows defence as soon as the fifth minute. Teko Modise played the Liberian into space but he failed to find the target with only the keeper to beat.
Sundowns dominated the early exchanges, with Laffor and especially Modise running the show in midfield. Swallows seemed to have forgotten how to play in the first 15 minutes of the game with the Brazilians having 80% of the possession.
Despite Sundowns’ dominance Swallows opened the scoring against the run of play in the 36th minute of the match. Siyabonga Nomvethe netted his fifth goal of the season from the penalty spot after David Mathebula was brought down in the box.
Mathebula broke through the Sundowns defence and was brought down by Method Mwanjale from behind in the penalty area. As a result Mwanjale received a straight red card for his troubles. The half ended 1-0 in favour of the visiting team thanks to a goal from Nomvethe.
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The second half started much like the first, with the Brazilians pressing forward in search of the back of the net. Chabangu went close for the visitors with a fierce shot from the edge of the area in the 59th minute, but the Bafana midfielder could only managing to hit the side netting.
Mushhekwi went close to finding the equaliser in the 73rd minute. The striker got on the end of a Mphela chip, but the striker’s volley went narrowly wide of Etafia’s post.
Mushekwi made a clear impact off the bench and the striker again went close to restoring parity in the 82nd minute, but his header from close range went over the bar.
Swallows held on for a narrow 1-0 victory, subsequently moving above Sundowns on the Premiership log.
Mamelodi Sundowns 0
Moroka Swallows (1) 1 (Nomvethe 37’ pen)
Mamelodi Sundowns: Sandilands; Mphela, Arendse, Mabaso, Mwanjale, Henyekane (Mushekwi 63’), Nyandoro, Shongwe, Laffor (Sangweni 40’), Modise (Khumalo 72’), Langerman
Moroka Swallows: Etafia; Da Costa, Cohen, Lekgothoane, Kumalo, Tsutsulupa (Chenene 25’), Mapemba, Nomvethe (Machapa 77’), Mabalane, Mathebula (Mashego 70’), Chabangu
