Soccer
Swallows fly into final
2009-04-26 10:08
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Polokwane - Moroka Swallows have salvaged their season by reaching the final of the Nedbank Cup on May 23.
But they had to work hard for their 2-1 win over First Division giant killers Black Leopards in a tense semi-final played at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday night.
It was a brave display from Leopards who beat three Premier Soccer League clubs en route to the semifinals but found that they lacked the experience of their opponents. Leopards play in a vital relegation clash against their Limpopo neighbours Dynamos in Tzaneen next Saturday to try and save themselves from being relegated to the Vodacom League (Third Division).
The Birds started the season on fire and were tipped as possible PSL champions until they slipped badly in the second round and are now battling to finish in the top eight. However, Birds coach Julio Leal will be happy to settle for a place in the country's most prestigious cup final where they meet the winners of the Sunday's other semi-final between another First Division outfit Pretoria University and PSL club Ajax Cape Town at Milpark.
Leopards refused to allow themselves to be overawed in a first half where the action flowed from end to end and in which the First Division outfit used the counter attack to good effect.
The Birds edged the opening 45 minutes by creating more chances but Leopards gave as good as they got. The First Division side impressed with their pace and enthusiasm giving Birds little chance to settle on the ball.
Birds midfielder Mark Haskins headed a quality cross from Vincent Kobola centimetres over the Leopards cross bar in the eighth minute. Then the giant Birds striker Sandile "SK 47" Ndlovu was wide with another header at the Leopards goal from a Haskins cross after 14 minutes.
But two minutes later Birds goalkeeper Greg Etafia did well to stop a close range pile driver from Joseph Lekata as the lower league club caught their PSL big brothers out on the counter attack.
A minute later Lekata headed wide when he collected a good cross from Thabo Mongala.
Birds suffered a bit of bad luck in the 22nd minute when Cecil Oerson collected a great through ball from Ndlovu, beat keeper Posnett Omony but the midfielder's shot crashed off the post and was cleared for a corner.
Lekata then took the wrong option in the 35th minute when he went for glory instead of passing inside the Birds penalty area and as a result he shot wide wasting a good chance to rattle Swallows.
At the other end a minute later, Ugandan international Omony did well to fist away a well struck Oerson free kick to keep the score blank at the interval.
The second half was similar to the first in that Leopards smothered the midfield and closed down the Birds. Birds midfielder Kagiso Denge was wide with an attempt on the Leopards goal two minutes into the second half.
Omony came to Leopards rescue when he managed to get his finger tips to a goal bound shot from Oerson shot after 54 minutes. Leopards replied with a shot from Mongezi Bobo with a shot that flew over the upright in the 65th minute. Then his teammate Christopher Netshidzivhe tried his luck but his shot also sailed over the crossbar in the 67th minute.
The Birds broke the deadlock when skipper Lefa Tsutsulupa laid on a great ball to striker Igor Alves whose shot was almost booted off the goalline by veteran defender Peter Mpondo but the assistant referee and referee Jerome Damon rightly ruled the ball had crossed the line in the 75th minute.
Birds substitute Thulani Ngcepe made it 2-0 in the 88th minute when he tapped home after the Leopards defence failed to clear a cross from Alves and Ngcepe took advantage.
But all credit to Leopards who refused to give up and were rewarded with a last minute consolation goal scored by experienced midfielder Jabu Maluleke from the edge of the penalty area.