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| Shaun Haschick © Backpagepix |
Moroka Swallows narrowly beat Platinum Stars 1-0 during their lively Absa Premiership encounter that was played at Moruleng Stadium in Rustenburg on Saturday night.
This hard-fought win moves the Dube Birds to 17 points on the log and moves them a few places up on the standings, while Stars remain on 12 points and among the teams battling at the bottom half of the table and needing some inspiration to get their campaign back on track.
And the celebrations from the visiting players when the final whistle sounded explained the importance of these precious away points.
Stars nearly opened the scoring when experienced Swallows goalkeeper Greg Etafia forgot the basics of his trade between the poles by fumbling Luis Renteria's cross only to be saved by one of his defenders who cleared the ball away for safety in the nick of time.
The suspect-looking Etafia was the busier of the two goalkeepers on the park in the opening stages of the game as he was tested by Stars attackers on numerous occasions as he tried to settle.
Though Stars enjoyed possession and created most of the early chances, it was Swallows who opened the scoring in the 23rd minute when midfielder Shaun Haschick beat Stars goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini with a thunderous close-range shot after he was set-up by Lungisani Ndlela and Lefa Tsutsulupa from a throw in by Ramahlwe Mphahlele.
The goal sparked more life and urgency into the work of Stars as Renteria forced a good flying save from Etafia.
Stars looked impressive on the attack with Stanley Kgatla, Joseph Malongoane and Tshepo Ramokala causing problems for the opposition while Swallows had the likes of Haschick, Keegan Ritchie and Lefa Tsutsulupa initiating most of the forays into the danger area.
It was also impressive display by Mbulelo ‘OJ’ Mabizela who continues to make a strong case for himself with the 2010 World Cup just a few months away.
Four minutes away from the break, Etafia was called into action by Malongoane but he was equal to the task as he parried away the well-taken diving header inside the box to make sure that his team went to the break with the lead.
In the 51st minute, Haschick found himself with acres of space just outside the box but he failed to score his second goal of the season as his shot went over the cross-bar.
Five minutes before the half hour mark, Stars coach Steve Komphela was forced to make a defensive change when Oscar Ntwagae succumbed to an unsporting tackle from a Swallows player to be replaced by George Mofokeng.
It got worse for Stars as they had to play the remaining three minutes and referee’s optional time with ten men when Ramokala was stretched off the pitch with what looked like a serious injury and they had already made all their substitutions.
In the 58th minute, Stars' defence were nearly punished when they allowed a free-kick to land in the path of Phumelele Bhengu inside the box but the South African junior international could not find the target.
As the second half continued, scoring chances became almost non-existent but Brazilian import Davi Rancan tested the alert Kapini with a long-range shot in the 70th minute.
Stars came close to the equaliser in the dying minutes but Kagiso Senamela's long-range shot was saved by Etafia who improved from his early mistakes as the game progressed.
Platinum Stars 0
Moroka Swallows (1) 1 (Haschick 23’)
Stars: (4-4-2) Kapini; Masenya, Mabizela, Ntwagae (Mofokeng 61’), Lobo; Malongoane (Mahlangu 75’), Kgatla, Senamela, Ramokala; Renteria (Murakami 55’), Meiring
Swallows: (4-4-2) Etafia; Mphahlele, Hendricks, Cichon, Ritchie; Shivambu (Shumana 89’), Tsutsulupa, Denge, Haschick (Rancan 56’); Bhengu (Alves 74’), Ndlela
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