Africa-Press – Eswatini. MONENI Pirates veteran attacker Mfanzile ‘Fash’ Ndzimandze’s brace was enough to hold Mbabane Swallows to a 2-all draw and deny them temporary top spot in the MTN Premier League log table.
This was during a match played at Mavuso Sports Centre yesterday.
A win for the ‘Beautiful Birds’ would have seen them jump to the top of the log table.
The draw also means the ‘Sea Robbers’ are yet to record victory this season. It took the red and white giants just 12 minutes to register their first goal through Siyabonga Zwane, who tapped in a beauty after latching on to a well-crafted cross.
Credit must go to Pirates, who did not drop their heads as they searched for an equaliser, which they did get nine minutes later.
‘Fash’made it 1-1 from Malibongwe Malinga’s cut back pass in the 21st minute. This helped open up the game as it became an entertaining encounter.
Sizolwethu ‘Nunu’ Shabalala came close to scoring but his effort hit the cross bar after a goal mouth scramble in the 30th minute.
Goalkeeper Sandanezwe Mathabela was almost left red faced as his attempted clearance deflected off the head of Mazwi Sihlongonyane.
The match went to the break at 1-1. The start of the second half saw the capital city giants bringing on Felix ‘Fela’ Badenhorst for Ncomo Gina. Moneni’s Phumlani Shongwe missed a golden chance to put his team ahead after coming one-on-one with the goalkeeper, only to put his effort wide in the 48th minute.
Swallows would make them regret that missed opportunity five minutes later when ‘Nunu’ fired his team ahead in the 53rd minute from a screamer outside the box.
Showing resilience, the Buccaneers did not sit back as they added more attacking options from the bench in of a goal and it paid off.
The Buccaneers were awarded a penalty in the 67th minute after Kingsley Kwayki brought down Thembisa Shabangu inside the box. ‘Fash’ stepped up and converted from the spot in the 69th minute to restore parity for the second time on the day.
Just like in the first half, Pirates grew in confidence after their goal as the match opened up once more with end-to-end attacking action.
Felix got a half chance from a set-piece outside the box in added time but he was slightly off target.
None of the sides were able to find the winning goal as referee Thulani Sibandze blew the final whistle.
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