Africa-Press – Eswatini. Mbabane Swallows…(1)2
Green Mamba………..(0)0
CAPITAL city side Mbabane Swallows finally turned the corner in the MTN Premier League with a morale boosting 2-0 victory over Green Mamba.
The red and white glamour side outfoxed the Correctional Services side through goals from Bashiri Mutanda and Tony ‘TT’ Tsabedze to jump to the fifth position of the log during a crunch week four fixture played at Somhlolo National Stadium.
The match started on a high note with both sides coming at each other but it was Swallows who were dominant, much of the contest with the majority of the first-half action taking place in their opponent’s defensive third.
Green Mamba did not take it lying down as they would now and again launch a number of counter-attacks that Swallows defenders dealt with.
Swallows Ugandan striker Mutanda went close with a hard shot in the 10th minute after connecting a corner kick but the opposition goalkeeper Xolani Gama made a brilliant save to keep the score at 0-0.
The match continued with the teams displaying great football but there were no goals.
Green Mamba’s fullback Mthunzi Motsa almost put his team in front when he unleashed a hard shot from outside the box but Swallows goalkeeper Sandanezwe Mathabela was up for the challenge as he made a save.
Former Swallows striker Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa was not at his best in this match as he struggling to penetrate the Swallows defenders.
It was another ex-Swallows player Njabulo ‘D4D’ Ndlovu, who troubled his former team and is unlucky not to have scored.
He bossed the midfielder as he would supply their strikers, who were, however, not clinical in front of goal. With only three minutes before half time, Swallows scored the first goal via the boot of Bashiri, who was troublesome on the day after a good interchange of passes.
The visitors tried to regroup but Swallows defenders thwarted every move they made towards goal.
The match went to break with the ‘Beautiful Birds’ leading 1-0.
The game continued in the same vein for much of the second-half as the first with Swallows in search of another goal.
‘Inyoka Eluhlazana’ absorbed the pressure and also pushed numbers forward in search for an equaliser but again the Swallows defence remained resolute.
Felix ‘Fela’ Badenhorst again called Gama into action after some frantic goalmouth action, which saw the goalkeeper pull off an incredible double-save to deny Swallows from scoring the second goal.
The red and white ensemble made it 2-0 in the 57th minute after former international player Badenhorst found himself unmarked to head in at near post a Banele ‘Pupu’ Sikhondze corner kick.
Mutanda again went close five minutes later after being played in by ‘TT’ Tsabedze, who came in as a substitute but the striker hit the cross bar with the keeper well beaten.
Mamba pushed for their first goal of the match with substitute Banele ‘Banny’ Mdluli unleashing a shot which missed the target from inside the box.
The momentum was with the ‘Beautiful Birds’ in the latter stages of the game and goalkeeper Xolani was a busy man as he made a fine save to deny ‘TT’ from close range in the 86th minute and ultimately, the game ended in a 2-0 win in favour of Swallows.
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