Swallows FC secured a 1-0 win over Kaizer Chiefs in the DStv Premiership match at the Dobsonville Stadium on Tuesday night.
The victory took the Birds to the top of the standings, while Amakhosi are placed 11th on the table after recording their second league defeat of the season.
Amakhosi were the better side in the opening exchanges and they had an early chance to break the deadlock through Leonardo Castro four minutes into the game.
Kgotso Moleko’s delightful cross found Castro, who attempted an overhead kick in the box, but the Colombian marksman failed to connect with the ball from close range.
Moleko was a busy man down the right-hand side – delivering pin-point crosses into the Swallows box as his dangerous curling effort was well saved by goalkeeper Virgil Vries in the 14th minute.
The 30-year-old right-back then found Willard Katsande with a pin-point cross in the 21st minute, but the veteran midfielder failed to direct the ball towards goal with Vries rooted to the ground.
Amakhosi continued to launch attacks after the half-hour mark and Philani Zulu hit the crossbar with powerful shot from inside the box as the visitors pushed for the opening goal.
Daniel Cardoso thought he had broken the deadlock on the stroke of halftime, but the Chiefs defender’s goal was disallowed for a foul on Vries.
The score 0-0 at the interval following a first-half which was dominated by Chiefs.
Swallows started the second-half brightly with former Orlando Pirates midfielder Lebogang Mokoena pulling the strings for the home side.
The 34-year-old’s well taken free-kick found Sammy Seabi in the box, but the Mamelodi Sundowns loanee placed his header over Chiefs keeper Itumeleng Khune’s crossbar.
Chiefs found it difficult to create goalscoring opportunities with the hosts dominating possession and head coach Gavin Hunt decided to introduce Njabulo Blom and Bernard Parker.
Parker brought pace to the Chiefs attack and he tried to set-up Castro, but the ball hit Swallows defender Njabulo Ngcobo’s hand and the match referee ignored the visitors’ call for a hand ball.
Amakhosi had a chance to snatch a late winning goal following a goalkeeping error by Vries, but Parker was quickly closed down by the hosts’ defence and they cleared their lines with seven minutes left.
The visitors were left to rue that chance as the home side grabbed a late goal in the 86th minute when Mokoena’s cross was turned home by Joseph Mhlongo to seal a 1-0 victory over Chiefs.
Swallows (0) 1 (Mhlongo 86′)
Chiefs 0
Swallows: Vries, Mere, Hlanti (Matlaba 46′), Letlabika, Ngcobo, Mokoena, Seabi (Nyatama 90’+3) Mthethwa, Thibedi (Basadien 90’+2), Gamildien (Mhlongo 74′), Mbokoma (Mahlatsi 74′).
Chiefs: Khune, Moleko, Cardoso, Mphahelele, Ngezana, Zulu, Katsande, Ngcobo (Blom 71′) Manyama (Parker 71′), Castro, Billiat (Sifama 85′).©
SOURCED FROM THE PSL WEBSITE.
