Staff Reporter.
Swallows FC scored in the final minute of stoppage-time to secure a 1-0 win over DStv Premiership debutants Royal AM at Dobsonville Stadium on Sunday.
The Birds seemed to be heading for an all to familiar draw, but Strydom Wambi scored in the 93rd minute of the match to get the Birds off to a soaring start on home soil in what was a cagey encounter with little to write home about.
Royal AM coach John Maduka opted to start with nearly all players from the acquired Bloemfontein Celtic bar veteran Elias Pelembe who recently joined the club following a stint with Polokwane City.
Swallows conjured the first attempt at goal in the 18th minute of the match. Thabo Matlaba found Ruzaigh Gamildien in the penalty area, but the marksman miscued his resulting effort wide of goal.
A minute later, the lively Dillan Solomons blazed past his marker before delivering a low cross into Lebohang Mokeona’s feet but the veteran midfielder missed the ball with the goal at his mercy.
Royal AM struggled to create any chances of their own and looked like a team in transition for most part and would’ve been happy with a point, but Swallows showed last season that they will fight until the last second and got their just reward.
Matlala Makgalwa found an unmarked Wambi who nodded home past Sipho Chaine with seconds remaining to lead the hosts to all three points on the day.
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos attended the game but could be seen making his way out of the stadium before the full-time whistle. It was hardly surprising that the Belgian opted to leave early in lieu of the lack of spark in the game.
Swallows will next be up against AmaZulu at the Jonsson Kings Park Stadium on Wednesday while Royal AM will make their home Premiership debut against Cape Town City at the Chatsworth Stadium on the same day.
Meanwhile Kaizer Chiefs had to settle for a 0-0 draw against TS Galaxy at the Mbombela Stadium on Sunday afternoon in their opening league match of the PSL season.
There is clearly still work to be done after an uninspired performance from the Soweto side. In a match in which neither team really sparked to life and unable to create anything,a share of the spoils was fair result.