Swallows FC came from behind against Cape All Stars to secure an important 2-1 win at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
This north versus south fixture was the second round robin match, and Igugu Lekapa’s second game having lost against AmaTuks in their first encounter. Swallows came into this game having only won four games all season in the DStv Premiership.
Within the first minute All Stars pushed forward and created a chance that was missed by Sabelo Nyembe via a diving header. Eleven minutes later, Justice Figareido took a shot that flew over the crossbar.
Most of the early pressure was exerted by Igugu Lekapa, which was almost rewarded when a ball over the top ended in a cut back but no one was there to finish in the 22nd minute.
Zaphaniah Mbokoma again broke through in the 26th minute but was unable to find the inside pass with a two-on-one situation.
The goal eventually came through when a beautiful cross by David Matlala was floated in and converted by Eswatini’s Figareido in the 40th minute via a sumptuous diving header.
The second stanza was opened with a wayward free-kick by Dillan Solomons in the 50th minute and four minutes later Kagiso Malinga took a shot but slipped and it bounced into the hands of Kyle Peters easily.
Malinga was involved in a missed headed chance in the 59th minute, provided by an inswinging cross of Ruzaigh Gamildien, who came on at half-time. A cut-threaded ball by Sirgio Kammies in the 62nd minute nearly doubled the lead for All Stars but was missed by Figareido from close range.
Meanwhile, the breakthrough for Swallows came five minutes later when Strydom Wambi got on the end of one of Solomons’ persistent crosses and levelled matters. Shortly after Matlala Makgalwa had the ball in the back of the net but was disallowed, in the 69th minute.
Gamildien found space and chipped a ball into the path of Sphesihle Mbhele, who nearly turned it in nine minutes later.
Swallows eventually found the winner in the third minute of injury-time, when Joseph Mhlongo scored from a Gamildien cross for the Dube Birds. Gamildien could’ve potentially been offside and All Stars coach Allan Freese got a red card for protesting the decision.
Dylan Kerr’s side will now play away against Amatuks at the Tuks Stadium on Saturday, with both sides having collected three points against All Stars.
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