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Pretoria - A spectacular 89th minute goal by Lerato Chabangu saw Moroka Swallows snatch a last gasp 1-0 win over the University of Pretoria to grab their first three points of the Absa Premiership season on Saturday afternoon at the Dobsonville Stadium.
The game seemed destined to finish with a goalless draw, following double saves by both goalkeepers, but the Bafana Bafana midfielder was having none of it as he lobbed the ball over Washinton Arubi to seal the win.
As the new season got underway it welcomed new aspirations and expectations for each team, but none more important than securing the first three points of the new season.
Moroka Swallows’ Siyabonga Nomvethe threatened from the off, with a shot just outside the box, but it was well handled by Washington Arubi.
The Birds were playing some great one touch silky football, inside the opening 15 minutes of play, but their defence was left breathing a sigh of relief when Buhle Mkhwanazi directed his header narrowly off target.
Nine minutes later, Lerato Chanbangu tried to work a goal from his free-kick from 30 yards. It was a disappointing effort for the Bafana Bafana player as his effort sailed over the bodies in the box and went out wide.
On the half hour, Mbekile showed why he is highly rated by head coach Steve Barker when he pulled off a crucial interception to steal the ball away from Thabo Mosadi’s feet on the edge of the box.
The Dube Birds came out flying after the restart and they were left wanting a penalty, in the 50th minute, when Obadiah Tarumbwa blocked Nomvethe’s cross into the box. The referee gave no concession to the spot kick.
The 55th minute saw the first change of the game take place, with the experienced Dipsy Selolwane taking the place of Tarumbwa for Tuks.
Mpho Maruping tried his luck from range a minute later, before Selolwane saw his strike brilliantly blocked by Swallows’ defender, Larry Cohen. The former Chippa United man put his body on the line by blocking the ball with his pelvis.
The game started to get a bit scrappy with needless tackles being made and it resulted in Tuks conceding a free-kick in front of their box. Chabangu struck a curler but it dipped too late, sailing over the crossbar in the 72nd minute.
Meanwhile, Greg Etafia pulled off a crucial double save to prevent Tuks from going 1-0 up four minutes later. The goalkeeper tipped Lucky Mathosi’s header onto the post before kicking away the rebound with his knee.
That ball then fell to Selolwane, but he squandered the perfect ball as he fired his effort straight over the bar from close range.
Similarly, Arubi made a double save off Lefa Tsutsulupa’s header and then a near post tap-in to keep the scoreline goalless with just eight minutes to go.
Chabanga had the final say, however, when he pulled off an audacious goal in which he lobbed a shot over Arubi and into the back of the net with just one minute to spare of regulation time.
The win means Swallows will join Kaizer Chiefs on top of the log with three points.
Moroka Swallows (0) 1 (Chabangu 89’)
University of Pretoria 0
Teams
Moroka Swallows: Etafia, Mungomeni, Isaacs, Cohen, Lekgothoane, Mbekile, Nergadze (Manqele 57’), Mabalane (Bereng 69’), Tsutsulupa (Obada 84’), Chanbangu, Nomvethe
University of Pretoria: Arubi, Kekana, Mkhwanazi, Shoyisa, Moussono-Moussono, Maruping, Matsi, Mosadi, Tarumbwa (Ngubane 81’), Oluwafemi (Selolwane 55’), Tefera (Mathosi 63’)
The game seemed destined to finish with a goalless draw, following double saves by both goalkeepers, but the Bafana Bafana midfielder was having none of it as he lobbed the ball over Washinton Arubi to seal the win.
As the new season got underway it welcomed new aspirations and expectations for each team, but none more important than securing the first three points of the new season.
Moroka Swallows’ Siyabonga Nomvethe threatened from the off, with a shot just outside the box, but it was well handled by Washington Arubi.
The Birds were playing some great one touch silky football, inside the opening 15 minutes of play, but their defence was left breathing a sigh of relief when Buhle Mkhwanazi directed his header narrowly off target.
Nine minutes later, Lerato Chanbangu tried to work a goal from his free-kick from 30 yards. It was a disappointing effort for the Bafana Bafana player as his effort sailed over the bodies in the box and went out wide.
On the half hour, Mbekile showed why he is highly rated by head coach Steve Barker when he pulled off a crucial interception to steal the ball away from Thabo Mosadi’s feet on the edge of the box.
The Dube Birds came out flying after the restart and they were left wanting a penalty, in the 50th minute, when Obadiah Tarumbwa blocked Nomvethe’s cross into the box. The referee gave no concession to the spot kick.
The 55th minute saw the first change of the game take place, with the experienced Dipsy Selolwane taking the place of Tarumbwa for Tuks.
Mpho Maruping tried his luck from range a minute later, before Selolwane saw his strike brilliantly blocked by Swallows’ defender, Larry Cohen. The former Chippa United man put his body on the line by blocking the ball with his pelvis.
The game started to get a bit scrappy with needless tackles being made and it resulted in Tuks conceding a free-kick in front of their box. Chabangu struck a curler but it dipped too late, sailing over the crossbar in the 72nd minute.
Meanwhile, Greg Etafia pulled off a crucial double save to prevent Tuks from going 1-0 up four minutes later. The goalkeeper tipped Lucky Mathosi’s header onto the post before kicking away the rebound with his knee.
That ball then fell to Selolwane, but he squandered the perfect ball as he fired his effort straight over the bar from close range.
Similarly, Arubi made a double save off Lefa Tsutsulupa’s header and then a near post tap-in to keep the scoreline goalless with just eight minutes to go.
Chabanga had the final say, however, when he pulled off an audacious goal in which he lobbed a shot over Arubi and into the back of the net with just one minute to spare of regulation time.
The win means Swallows will join Kaizer Chiefs on top of the log with three points.
Moroka Swallows (0) 1 (Chabangu 89’)
University of Pretoria 0
Teams
Moroka Swallows: Etafia, Mungomeni, Isaacs, Cohen, Lekgothoane, Mbekile, Nergadze (Manqele 57’), Mabalane (Bereng 69’), Tsutsulupa (Obada 84’), Chanbangu, Nomvethe
University of Pretoria: Arubi, Kekana, Mkhwanazi, Shoyisa, Moussono-Moussono, Maruping, Matsi, Mosadi, Tarumbwa (Ngubane 81’), Oluwafemi (Selolwane 55’), Tefera (Mathosi 63’)
