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Port Elizabeth - Moroka Swallows earned a lot of respect despite losing 2-1 to Bundesliga champions VfL Wolfsburg in their Volkswagen Challenge Trophy showdown played at the picturesque Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Stadium on Monday night.
The Birds who started nervously finished the match the stronger of the two sides and had the German champs holding on for dear life at the end.
The Birds who are fighting to finish in the Premier Soccer League’s top eight this season were out muscled and out thought by a physically stronger and more skilful Bundesliga kingpins during the opening 30 minutes.
But to the Birds credit they refused to throw the towel or panic and gradually fought their way back into the game and gave themselves a lifeline two minutes from the break when their skipper Lefa Tsutsulupa made it 2-1 from close range.
Wolfsburg started off like the champions they are and swamped the Birds goal mouth. It came as no surprise when the Germans went ahead in the eighth minute when defender Sascha Riether made it 1-0 from inside the penalty area.
Four minutes later German international defender Christian Gentner almost made it 2-0 but his fiercely struck shot from outside the penalty area skimmed over the crossbar.
Wolfsburg doubled their lead on 17 minutes when their star striker Edin Dzeko capitalised after Birds defender Ashraf Hendricks slipped in trying to clear the ball and the sharp eyed Bosnian international was on hand to steer the ball home.
The goal seemed to lull Wolfsburg into a false sense of security. Swallows started to get their rhythm and it took a top class save from Wolfsburg’s keeper Marwin Hitz in the 24th minute to prevent Birds South African under-20 star Ramahlwe Mphahlele from getting his name on the score sheet.
Then three minutes later another SA Under-20 ace Sibusiso Khumalo had his goal bound effort deflected for a corner.
At the other end Birds Nigerian keeper Greg Etafia did well to deny Dzeko a second goal. Dzeko, 23, showed some tremendous moves that have made him the target of leading European clubs such as AC Milan and three English giants Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal during the first 45 minutes.
The asking price for Dzeko is 40 million euros (about R440 million) Wolfsburg’s German Under-23 star Fabian Johnson was fractionally wide of the woodwork in the 38th minute.
But Birds veteran striker Collins Mbesuma missed a great chance when he took too long to control a good cross from Khumalo and was dispossessed. The out of touch Zambian was replaced at halftime by Lungisani Ndlela.
But with Birds getting stronger at the end of the opening half Tsutsulupa had the small, but appreciative, 3 000-odd crowd on their feet when he blasted home Phaladi Kobolo’s cross from inside the six-yard box making it 2-1 in the 43rd minute.
Wolfsburg coach Armin Veh kept his promise of giving all 20 players a run when he made nine changes at half-time. The fresh legs almost paid instant dividends when Alexander Esswein narrowly missed the target from the restart.
Birds teenage striker Augustine Leonard who benefitted form playing against players who recently competed in the European Champions League was close to snatching the equaliser but he missed Tsutsulupa free-kick at the near post by a whisker.
The Birds pushed hard for the equaliser in the second half but the pace and quality of the play in the second half failed to match that of the exciting first period.
Birds substitute Ace Bhengu had a well directed corner at the near post cleared off the goalline seven minutes from time.
It was the German champions who were under a lot of pressure at the end as the Birds had them under the cosh. But it was Wolfsburg’s greater experience that pulled them through.
