Dstv Premiership
Result: Swallows 1-0 Black Leopards
Date: 11 April 2021
Venue: Volkswagen Dobsonville Stadium
Swallows FC broke a nine-match winless run in the DStv Premiership with a 1-0 win over Black Leopards at Dobsonville Stadium on Sunday.
Lebohang Mokoena and Daniel Gozar came into the side for Swallows, while Tumelo Khutlang and Roderick Kabwe were introduced into the Leopards' starting line-up.
Leopards caught the Birds on the counter after six minutes and created a clear path towards goal. Wandisile Letlabika appeared out of thin air to send his effort goalbound and Virgil Vries made the save.
Lidoda Duvha were on top in the encounter but Swallows got their first shot on target when Gozar produced an audacious and acrobatic bicycle kick but unfortunately it was straight at Leopards keeper Jonas Mendes.
The hosts won a corner in the 38th minute which Mokoena found Gozar, who controlled on his chest and waited for it to drop before hitting the volley towards the far corner but it was cleared off the line.
Truter's side were exerting some significant pressure on their opponents and won a free-kick through Kgaogelo Sekgota. The set-piece was swung in and Leopards failed to clear with Letlabika's effort parried into the path of Mere, who also had his effort saved.
Swallows won a penalty on the hour mark when Masia clumsily upended Sekgota just inside the area. Gozar stepped up and placed the ball right into the bottom left-hand corner for his first goal in a Birds shirt.
In the 77th minute, the visitors broke swiftly on the counter and Ovidy Karuru did well down the left-hand side before squaring for Rodney Ramagalela, who sliced his right-footed effort high and wide.
Soon after, Bantu Mzwakali's right footed shot from outside the box was saved in the bottom left corner after he was played in by Joseph Mhlongo. And then Tiklas Thutlwa sent his effort over the bar after Sibusiso Khumalo had drilled the ball into the box with the Limpopo-based side unable to draw level in the end.
Check out the list of big name players with contracts expiring...
Here's how they started:
Swallows: 30. Vries, 8. Mere, 4. Ngcobo, 5. Letlabika, 27. Matlaba, 15. Nyatama, 9. Mokoena, 3. Mahlatsi, 20. Hozar, 28. Sekgota, 11. Mbokoma.
Subs: 17. Ngobeni, 2. Sibiya, 33. Khupe, 21. Seabi, 25. Mhlongo, 10. Senwamadi, 22. Hlanti, 14. Thibedi, 18. Mzwakali.
Leopards: 1. Mendes, Matsimbi, 33. Khumalo, 29. Masia, 2. Gyimah, 5. Abubakar, 6. Mthethwa, 4. Khutlang, 16. Ramagalela, 11. Karuru, 14. Kabwe.
Subs: 32. Muleka, 43. Sampson, 32. Mashoene, 24. Douhadji, 15. Maluleke, 35. Mokoena, 31 T. Ndlovu, 36. Thutlwa.
