Africa-Press – Eswatini. Capital city giants Mbabane Swallows were disappointed after they faced difficulties in their home clash against MTN Premier League title race rivals Royal Leopard at Mkhuzweni Technical Centre yesterday.
Swallows tried to give their General Manager Sandile ‘Beyond 2000’ Zwane a perfect birthday present in their attempt to beat Ingwemabalabala but the match ended in a 1-all draw.
Leopard dominated all aspects of play in the first 15 minutes but could not find the back of the net.
Swallows enjoyed most of the possession, but were doing little going forward, yet they showed how dangerous they could be on the counter attack in the 20th minute as a flowing move ended with Tony ‘Ben 10’ Machacha laying off an inviting ball to Sizolwethu Shabalala, who failed to beat the goalkeeper.
Muzi ‘Mzoro’ Dlamini enjoyed a strong surge down the left before shooting from a tight angle but Swallows goalkeeper Sandanezwe Mathabela made a sharp save and then did brilliantly to scramble when the rebound of teammate Felix Hunusgubo threatened to roll over the goal line.
The police side eventually scored in the 36th minute through Felix after receiving a cross from ‘Mzoro’ to put his team ahead.
The Birds had a fine chance as Ayanda Gadlela made a run down the right flank, but he opted to shoot from a tight angle rather than pass to ‘Nunu’ and was denied by goalkeeper Ncamiso ‘Mbhonyo’ Dlamini.
The match went to the break with Leopard leading 1-0. The ‘Beautiful Birds’ opted for a change in attack at the start of the second stanza, as Siyabonga ‘Gusheshe’ Zwane replaced ‘Ben 10’. Zwane should have brought his team level seven minutes after the restart, as he latched onto a cross from the left but then rushed his shot and skewed the ball wide of the target.
Sandile Hlatjwako also missed a good chance, as Swallows struggled to find a way back into the game while Leopard looked to provide a threat on the counter attack. However, another Swallows substitute, Leon Manyisa, provided a superb half-volleyed strike from inside the box which missed the target.
The match continued to be entertaining with Leopard resorting to protecting their lead. Swallows’ Sibusiso ‘Niang’ outplayed Leopard midfielders in the middle of the park. Swallows found the equaliser as they benefited from a corner.
It was Kingsley Kwayki who met the well taken corner kick by Manyisa with a great header, which found the top corner of the net to make it 1-1 in the 83rd minute and set up a tense finale. In the 87th minute, Swallows stole possession high up the field and created a chance for Zwane, who stabbed a low shot just wide of Mbhonyo’s right-hand post.
That proved to be the last major chance at either end, with Leopard and Swallows ultimately settling for a share of the spoils.
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