Absa Premiership
Full Time: Mamelodi Sundowns 4-1 Moroka Swallows
Date: 10 February 2014
Venue: Lucas Moripe Stadium
A rampant first half from Mamelodi Sundowns saw them bag four goals as they ran out 4-1 winners over Moroka Swallows in an Absa Premiership match at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Tuesday night.
It was a bright start to the game for the home side who created their first chance on goal in the third minute when Teko Modise saw a 24-yard free-kick superbly saved by Greg Etafia.
Four minutes later Etafia was called into action again when Kharma Billiat met a ball over the top of the Swallows defence from Bongani Zungu, but he saw his 12-yard volley brilliantly saved.
In the 13th minute the Brazilians made their pressure tell when Alje Schut headed home a right-sided free-kick from Teko Modise, 1-0.
A minute later Sundowns doubled their lead when Cuthbert Malajila headed home a right-sided cross from Anthony Laffor, 2-0.
In the 22nd minute Cuthbert Malajila found his second goal when he got onto the end of a low cross from Siyanda Zwane to tap the ball into the back of the net from a couple of yards out, 3-0.
Three minutes later the match was really over as a contest when Modise’s 35-yard free-kick took an awkward bounce in front of Etafia and snuck under his body into the net to make it 4-0.
Sundowns continued to control the remainder of the half, but could not add to the scoreline.
Swallows, though, did manage to pull a goal back just before the break after Luyolo Nomandela converted from the penalty spot after Felix Obada was brought down inside the box by Mzikayise Mashaba, 4-1.
Swallows started better in the second half and saw a lot of the ball, but they failed to do anything significant with their possession.
Instead, the best chance came just after the hour mark when a counter-attack from Sundowns ended in a Modise shot from the edge of the box skimming the outside of the post.
Billiat should have made it five in the 85th minute when he drove into the Swallows box on another counter-attack, but his 14-yard shot went narrowly wide of the target.
Nonetheless, the Brazilians picked up the three points and closed the gap between themselves and Kaizer Chiefs at the top of the table to 12 points for the time being.
