DStv Premiership
Result: Swallows FC 2-0 Maritzburg United
Date: 15 December 2020
Venue: Volkswagen Dobsonville Stadium
Swallows FC cemented second position in the DStv Premiership after beating winless Maritzburg United 2-0 on Tuesday evening.
Fawaaz Basadien was handed his debut for Swallows while Maritzburg made three changes, as Bandile Shandu was recalled alongside Sibusiso Hlubi and a first start for Travis Graham.
The Team of Choice had the first big chance in the 21st minute after Rushine De Reuck's glancing header came off the upright after a corner by Daniel Morgan.
Swallows were awarded a penalty with ten minutes remaining of the first stanza after goalkeeper Sebastian Mwange brought down Ruzaigh Gamildien inside the box and Gamildien stepped up himself and gave Brandon Truter's charges the lead from the spot.
Ernst Middendorp's men came back fired up from the break, building up momentum in search of the equaliser but Gamildien doubled the lead for Swallows in the 64th minute and grabbed his brace in the process.
Truter was slowing down the tempo of the match with a tactical change in the last quarter of an hour, as midfielder Musa Nyatama came on for two-goal hero and striker Gamildien.
Thabo Mosadi had a wonderful chance to get the third goal for the hosts in the last seven minutes after getting behind the Maritzburg defence but his attempted chip over Mwange sailed over the bar.
However, it did not matter in the end as the Birds had already done enough and clinched a 2-0 victory that keeps them two points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns in second place.
Meanwhile, The defeat for Ernst Middendorp's men kept them rooted at the bottom of the log and without a win.
Here's how they started:
Swallows: 30. Vries, 8. Mere, 27. Matlaba, 5. Letlabika, 4. Ngcobo, 9. Mokoena, 28. Sekgota, 6. Mthethwa, 24. Basadien, 12. Gamildien, 11. Mbokoma.
Subs: 50. Tshabalala, 7. Mosadi, 21. Seabi, 22. Hlanti, 14. Thibedi, 20. Gozar, 25. Nyatama, 25. Mhlongo, 34Sait.
Maritzburg: 1. Mwange, 4. Allie, 5. Morgan, 19. Hachi, 23. De Reuck, 26. Shandu, 6. Graham, 45. Mngonyama, 17. Claasen, 28. Hlubi, 9. Moseamedi.
Subs: 27. Barr, 25. Ismail, 3. Sanoka, 18. Sandows, 12. Modise, 21. Hlongwane, Carnell.
Check out 7 of the PSL's most expensive players who moved in the last transfer window!
