Swallows were tactically sound - Zeca
Moroka Swallows boss Zeca Marques praised his side's tactical awareness following the Birds' 1-0 Premiership victory over Mamelodi Sundowns in Pretoria on Tuesday evening.
Swallows went ahead through Siyabonga Nomvethe nine minutes before the halftime interval, after Sundowns defender Method Mwanjale was handed a straight red card for bringing down David Mathebula inside the penalty area.
"Tactically I analysed the team. I knew their weaknesses, they are a good team but they have got a lot of weaknesses," Marques said following Tuesday's clash at Loftus Versfeld.
"Tactically I thought we were well organised, we were structured and it was a gutsy performance by our players.
"They (Swallows players) carried out their instructions to the tee, and to come to Sundowns and beat them here (at home), obviously I'm delighted."
The Birds ended Sundowns' run of 10 unbeaten games and in the process lifted themselves to 10th place in the Absa Premiership standing.
In doing so, they leapfrogged Sundowns, who slip down a place to 11th, after SuperSport United claimed a point against Free State Stars at the Charles Mopeli Stadium, on Tuesday.
The tie was turned on its head after referee Lwandile Mfiki gave Mwanjale his marching orders and Nomvethe slotted home past Wayne Sandilands for his fifth league goal of the season.
"It (the goal) came from a mistake from one of their players, but nonetheless it's part of the game," Marques said.
"I'm impressed with the gutsy performance, that makes me happy.
"We bounced back, we showed character coming from a loss to AmaZulu."
Meanwhile, Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane believed his side showed tremendous character in defeat.
He said on a different day, with a full compliment of players on the pitch, the side would have eased passed the Soweto side.
"We have a good team, we showed character, integrity and we were 10 against 11," a surprisingly upbeat Mosimane said.
"I think this is the only way we could lose, with one man down and a penalty.
"With 11 against 11 men we would never lose this match. It's a hurdle. We wanted to make it into the top eight but it's just a hurdle, but there are still 27 points to play for, so we go, we are building this team for next year."
