Swallows FC secured a comfortable 2-0 win over Maritzburg United in the DStv Premiership match at the Dobsonville Stadium on Tuesday night.
Despite the victory, the Birds remained second on the league standings, two points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, while the Team of Choice also remain 16th on the log.
The Team of Choice were the better side in the opening stages and they fired they threatened first through Sibusiso Hlubi in the eighth minute.
Daylon Classen set-up Hlubi, who forced Swallows goalkeeper Virgil Vries into a low save as the visitors looked to break the deadlock.
Maritzburg piled pressure on the home side and they came very close to scoring after a well-taken corner-kick by Daniel Morgan.
The left-footed player’s corner-kick found Rushine De Reuck, whose header hit the woodwork with Vries well beaten nine minutes before the half-hour mark
The Birds took control of the match after the half-hour mark and they were awarded a penalty after Ruzaigh Gamildien was fouled in the box.
Gamildien then stepped up and beat Maritzburg keeper Sebastian Mwange to make it 1-0 to Swallows in the 38th minute.
Swallows then contained Maritzburg and the home side was leading 1-0 at the interval.
The Birds continued to attack after the restart as they looked to double their lead with Kgaogelo Sekgota keen to impress on his debut for the Soweto giants.
The South Africa under-23 international found himself in a one-on-one situation with Mwange, who pulled off a great save to deny the attacker in the 50th minute.
Swallows continued to probe as they searched for their second goal of the match and they managed to score four minutes after the hour-mark.
Gamildien, who was in good form, beat Mwange for the second time on the night with a good finish to make it 2-0 to Swallows.
Pogiso Sanoka was introduced by Maritzburg coach Ernst Middendorp as the visitors looked to pull one back in the closing stages of the match.
However, the Birds stood firm at the back in the dying minutes of the match and ultimately, Swallows ran out 2-0 winners over Maritzburg.
Swallows (1) 2 (Gamildien 36′, 64′)Maritzburg 0
Swallows: Vries, Mere, Matlaba, Letlabika, Ngcobo, Mokoena, Sekgota (Mosadi 61′), Mthethwa (Sait 79′), Basadien (Seabi 28′), Gamildien (Nyatama 76′), Mbokoma (Gozar 60′).
Maritzburg: Mwange, Allie, Morgan, Hachi, De Reuck, Shandu (Sandows 46′), Mngonyama (Sanoka 77′), Claasen, Hlubi (Hlongwane 46′), Moseamedi, Graham.© Backpage TXT.
SOURCED FROM THE PSL WEBSITE.
