Moroka Swallows defeated Chiefs for just the third time in 23 Premier Soccer League meeting between the two teams since 1996.

It was Swallows first victory over Chiefs in a league game since January 2005. It took two second half goals from Sandile Ndlovu and Bevan Fransman to put Swallows in the driving seat.

Chiefs did get back in the game when Shaun Bartlett spectacularly headed Jimmy Tau’s cross from the right home. Swallows were later reduced to ten men and Chiefs tried to make their numerical advantage count and came close to finding an equalizer. With the clock running down, Jimmy Tau and Bartlett once again combined to good effect as he headed Tau’s cross towards Khenyeza. With the goal gaping the dread locked one hit the ball on the volley first time and knocked the ball wide of what was virtually an open goal.

High flying Birds

Swallows were all over The Amakhosi in the first half and once more Chiefs had their back line and Itumeleng Khune to thank for keeping the opposition at bay.

In the 20th minute the young keeper made an excellent save as he dived to cut out a cross from the right. He managed to push the ball away from Ndlovu only as far as Sibusiso Themba who shot straight away, Khune who was sprawled across the ground managed to block the ball with his body. On 24 minute Japhet Zwane’s cross from the left was not picked up by Bhasera and the ball fell invitingly for Ndlovu in acres of space. The man known as the AK 47 could not find the target and hit the ball high over Khune. Just past the half hour mark and Khune was called into action again as he acrobatically climbed to meet James Chamanga’s cross and pushed it over with his right hand for a corner and ensured that the teams went into the break level.

Breakthrough

Five minutes had lapsed in the second half when the Chiefs rearguard finally caved in when Themba sent a long ball over to Chamanga, with the Chiefs defence no where in sight Khune came out to try and cut out the cross but it was in vain as Chamanga’s square ball found Ndlovu and this time around he was able to walk the ball home.

Within a couple of minutes Swallows doubled their lead as Themba swung in a free kick from just past the half way line of the right hand side. The ball was initially cleared by the Chiefs defence but Zwane picked up the clearance and through the ball over the top which Fransman beat the offside trap to race on to and chipped the ball home to double Swallows advantage.

Change for the better

Immediately after going two goals down, Muhsin Ertugral rung the changes and brought on the experienced heads of Thabo Mooki and David Obua, who seemed to give Chiefs a real edge in the match as The Amakhosi fought their way back.

Mooki and Obua were at the heart of Chiefs fight back in the 74th minute. It was Mooki who played a beautiful square curling pass to Obua, the Ugandan in turn cut through the Swallows midfield and played the ball out wide to Jimmy Tau. As it was a week ago Bartlett dived through the air and headed the ball past a statue like Mathibe, who cursed his defence once the ball had cross the line in truth he had little chance of getting to the ball.

One man advantage

Zwane was shown his marching orders inside the last ten minutes for kicking at Jimmy Tau, Chiefs began to believe that they could make the most of their numerical advantage. With a minute to go Tau again played into space by Obua on the right send another beautiful ball to Bartlett who headed the ball across goal to Khenyeza, the former Golden Arrows man hit the perfect volley but it went inches wide of Mathibe’s goal. In injury time another of Chiefs second half substitutes who made an impact after coming on Thuso Phala, was sent in the clear by Obua and from the right edge of the Chiefs 18 yard area Phala grazed the cross bar with his powerful pile driver.

Not so Beautiful Birds

Fransman, who had scored Swallows second goal on the night, was sent off deep in injury time for using foul language at one of the assistant referees. After the game he proceeded to launch an attack at the referee and the assistant and had to be restrained by his teammates. It was an unnecessary episode from a player who is supposed to be a model example of fair play. Fransman did not need to show a side of his personality that had not been displayed before for a professional player in a live television match to behave the way he did at the end of the game he needs to apologize for his unsavoury behaviour.

Line Up’s:

Kaizer Chiefs (4-1-2-1-2): 32. Itumeleng Khune, 2. Jimmy Tau, 3. Onismor Bhasera, 29. Moketi Tsotetsi, 6. Fabian McCarthy, 8. Tinashe Nengomasha, 22. Mandla Masango,18. Arthur Zwane, 33. Ditheko Mototo, 17. Shaun Bartlett, Mabhudi Khenyeza

Cautions: Yellow Cards: 33. Ditheko Mototo (foul on Mark Haskins) 20th min, 17. Shaun Bartlett (handling the ball) 33rd min

Substitutions:

In: 12. Thabo Mooki Out: 18. Arthur Zwane 51 min


In: 13. David Obua Out: 33. Ditheko Mototo 55 min


In: 26. Thuso Phala Out: 22. Mandla Masango 65 min

Substitutes not used: 1. Markus Bocsker, 27. Gerald Sibeko, 4. Cyril Nzama,

20. Sandile Zuke

Coach: Muhsin Ertugral


Assistant Coach: Fani Madida


Goalkeeper Coach: Rainer Dinkelacker

Moroka Swallows (4-4-2): 1. Aubrey Mathibe, 27. Ivan Winstanley, 25. James Mayinga, 16. Bevan Fransman, 22. Goodman Mazibuko, 12. Lefa Tsutsulupa, 7. Mark Haskins, 6. Sibusiso Thamba, 19. James Chamanga, 20. Sandile Ndlovu, 13. Japhet Zwane

Substitutions:

In: 17. Hellings Mwakasungula Out: 6. Sibusiso Thamba 63 min


In: 4. Patrick Mabedi Out: 27. Ivan Winstanley 87 min


In: 8. Tsweu Mokoro Out: 19. James Chamanga 86 min

Substitutes not used: 2. Vincent Koloba, 21. Edzai Kasinayo, 11. Patrick Thwala,

26. Pato Odwa

Cautions: Yellow Cards, 17. Hellings Mwakasungula (tackle from behind on Onismor Bhasera) 90+ min

Dismissal: Red Cards 13. Japhet Zwane (kicking out at Jimmy Tau) 81 min, 16. Bevan Fransman (foul language at linesman) 90 + min

Coach: Ian Gorowa


Assistant Coach: Innocent Mayoyo


Goalkeeper Coach: Shadreck Bhemba

Match Officials:

Referee: Ace Ncobo


Assistant 1: Siphiwe Jibiliza


Assistant 2: Mzimkhulu Chalambiso


4th Official: Zweli Nkosi


Match Commissioner: Mr. Mark Linden