Staff Reporter.
Swallows FC secured a hard fought 1-0 win over Cape United in a Nedbank Cup last-32 match at Dobsonville Stadium.
The Birds made changes to almost the entire squad, with only Thabo Matlaba, Fawaaz Basadien and Kgaogelo Sekgota remaining in the line-up from their draw with SuperSport United.
Swallows dominated the match from the start, but they failed to turn their possession into clear cut chances in the early proceedings.
The hosts upped the tempo towards the half-hour mark and they had an opportunity to break the deadlock through Sekgota in the 24th minute. The South Africa under-23 international cut inside from the left before unleashing a shot which was fantastically saved by United’s goalkeeper Llyod Kazapua.
Ruzaign Gamildien, who was making his return from suspension, turned his marker brilliantly inside the box before setting up Sipho Sibiya. However, Sibiya was ruled offside just when he was about to tap the ball home to hand the Beautiful Birds the lead in the 37th minute.
Swallows continued to control the match after the restart and they managed to break the deadlock through Kamohelo Mahlatsi. The former SuperSport United attacker beat Namibia international Kazapua with a decent finish to make it 1-0 to Swallows, four minutes before the hour-mark.
United’s coach Roger De Sa reacted by introducing the attack-minded trio of Gabriel Nyoni, Eleazar Rodgers and Asanda Dyani.
However with De Sa’s troops unable to threaten shot-stopper Thela Ngobeni in Swallows’ goal in the closing stages, the Birds held on in the end to clinch a narrow win that earned them a place in the last 16.
Swallows FC (0) 1 (Mahlatsi 56′)
Cape United (0) 0
Teams:
Swallows FC:Ngobeni, Sekgota (Mere 82′), Sait, Gamildien, Matlaba, Hlanti, Nyatama, Mahlatsi, Seabi (Maphanga 82′), Sibiya, Basadien (Mhlongo 72′).
Cape United:Kazapua, Mdunyelwa, Kammies, Pietersen, Gumede, Mekoa, Morton (Dubula 90′), Poggenpoel, Ndondo (Dyani 65′), E.Khumalo (Rodgers 65′), Mapfumo (Nyoni 65′).