Africa-Press – Eswatini. CAPITAL city giants Mbabane Swallows have booked a berth in the Trade Fair Cup quarter-finals after claiming a 3-0 win over Illovo at Mavuso Sports Centre yesterday.
The Beautiful Birds pushed ahead with purpose from the first whistle with Felix ‘Fela’ Badenhorst and Siyabonga Zwane heavily involved in the opening exchanges.
It was through some excellent work from the same channel that the capital city giants were able to edge ahead as the impressive new signee, Ncomo Gina, got the better of a defender on the flank before finding Siyabonga Zwane on the far post, and the Swallows striker scored from close range to make it 1-0.
Despite being a skeleton team since most of their players are with the national team, Swallows were the better side in the first half.
They would now and again launch a number of counterattacks with Illovo defending with their back against the wall.
Ncomo continued to be a menace on the right flank, leaving defenders in the dust just to be denied by a defender, who cut off his supply into the box in the 23rd minute.
Illovo tried to fight back, but it was not to be as Swallows showed superiority.
The red and white ensemble looked more comfortable in possession with Illovo more rushed, perhaps in light of the occasion.
Swallows should have doubled their lead in the half hour mark with Zwane only needing to play a pass across goal to the awaiting ‘Fela’and Nhlanhla Ngwenya with the ball evading both men.
A few minutes later, Gina drifted into some space down the left flank and played in a dangerous cross that gave ‘Fela’ no option but to score, making it 2-0 for Swallows.
At this stage of the match, Illovo were chasing shadows. The capital city giants had the better of the closing exchanges in the first half, as they continued to seek for more goals.
The match went to break with Swallows leading 2-0.
The second half began with Swallows resorting to cautious play, allowing their opponents to dominate proceedings.
Swallows regrouped and started attacking.
Much of the second half followed the same pattern, with the home side feeding on scraps on attack until the closing 10 minutes where Felix evaded a tackle on the left flank before playing Ncomo in, and the Swallows attacking midfielder calmly slotted in from just inside the penalty area to make it 3-0.
Banele ‘Pupu’ Sikhondze received the ball outside the box, eliminating one defender ahead of shooting, but the goalkeeper was up for the challenge.
That was the last decisive moment in what proved to be a top performance from the skeleton Swallows team, providing their ticket to the quarterfinals of the Trade Fair Cup, where they will face-off with Ezulwini United.
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