Staff Reporter.
Stellenbosch FC maintained their unbeaten start to the 2021-22 DStv Premiership season when they came from behind to hold Swallows FC to a 1-1 draw at Dobsonville Stadium.
The Dube Birds dominated possession in the opening stages with Grant Margeman, who was making his first competitive start for Swallows, seeing a lot of the ball in the middle of the park.
Swallows were struggling to turn their possession into real goalscoring opportunities for their centre forwards, RuzaighGamildien and Mwape Musonda, with the duo short of support and service.
This changed two minutes before halftime as Tebogo Langerman showed great persistence on the left flank, before playing a low cross for Gamildien, who netted with a tap in to make it 1-0 to Swallows.
However, Swallows went to sleep at the back on the stroke of halftime and they conceded when Stanley Dimgba’s low cross was turned home by Dean Van Rooyen to make it 1-1 heading into the break.
Van Rooyen looked hungry for goals after the restart and he tried an audacious attempt from long range which went wide of the target with goalkeeper Jody February diving to ensure that the ball didn’t sneak into the bottom left corner.
Swallows coach Brandon Truter introduced attackers Kagiso Malinga and Keletso Makgalwa with 12 minutes left as the hosts looked to grab a late winning goal and end their five-match winless run in the league.
Malinga nearly scored with a stunning long-range shot, but Stephens produced a magnificent one-handed save to deny the 26-year-old striker.
However, despite the promising moments from either outfit the match ended 1-1 in Dobsonville.