Swallows FC have now gone ten games without a win in the DStv Premiership after suffering a 1-0 loss to TS Galaxy on Sunday afternoon.
Result: TS Galaxy 1-0 Swallows
Date: 21 November 2021
Venue: Mbombela Stadium
Swallows had started brightly as Lebohang Mokoena picked up a neat Monnapule Saleng pass inside the Galaxy box, but he powered his shot just over Vasilije Kolak in the home goal.
But Galaxy were soon ahead, with just seven minutes played, as Sphiwe Mahlangu finished a superb move by cutting inside his man from the left before passing the ball into the bottom right corner of the net.
Mxolisi Macuphu then fired in at Jody February as Galaxy looked to build on their early goal, but his shot from the edge of the area lacked any power.
The visitors were opened up very easily on 24 minutes with Tshegofatso Nyama played in on goal, only for him to fire straight at February.
Macuphu then fired over from close range when he really should have scored, following some more super approach play from the hosts, including a great cut-back from the right from Sinethemba Mngomezulu.
Saleng was well wide with a shot as the first half drew to a close while TS Galaxy threatened to extend their lead at the start of the second period with a whipped in corner that was well headed clear under pressure by Junaid Sait.
A ball into the Galaxy area from Saleng was then just too close to an advancing Kolak as Swallows looked to break forward, before a double change for the away team as Kamohelo Mahlatsi and Zaphaniah Mbokoma came on for Lehlogonolo Matlou and Lebohang Mokoena on 53 minutes.
Swallows were on the back foot again as a newly-confident Galaxy found Macuphu with his back to goal in the box, leaving only an excellent fingertip save from February to keep out his acrobatic bicycle kick.
Keletso Makgalwa came on for Saleng as Khetukuthula Ndlovu replaced Solomons in a last throw of the dice for Swallows boss Brandon Truter with roughly 20 minutes of the match remaining, while Galaxy responded by introducing Ethan Brooks for Mngomezulu.
February had to be alert again moments later to deny Aubaas with a strong reaction save, before some end-to-end action saw Kolak forced into another excellent save - this time to deny Makgalwa from firing in at the near post on the left of goal.
Sait headed over a Gamildien free-kick on 78 minutes as Swallows continued to look for a leveller, while Makgalwa tried in vain to force his way past the entire Galaxy defence in the dying seconds.
Ultimately it wasn't to be for the Dube Birds, as Galaxy held on for just their second win of the season, to lift them into 14th place on eight points, as Swallows dropped to 15th, with one victory from their 11 games.
Galaxy: 32. Kolak, 50. Makitan, 45. Sanoka, 3. Seedat, 23. Munyai, 8. Nduli, 15. Aubaas, 27. Mahlngu, 11. Nyama, 29. Macuphu, 37. Mngomezulu.
Subs: 16. Huegh, 6. Mbunjana, 4. Mahlangu, 7. Mogalia, 2. Bodibe, 28. Phohlongo, 43. Filipetto, 18. Ndwandwe, 10. Brooks.
Swallows: 31. February, 33. Khupe, 34. Sait, 36. Mohamme, 28. Sasman, 15. Nyatama, 42. Matlou, 9. Mokoena, 18. Solomons, 10. Saleng, 12. Gamildien.
Subs: 17. Thela, 2. Sibiya, 24. Basadien, 11. Mbokoma, 22. Ndlovu, 4. Ntshumayelo, 45. Nene, 35. Makgalwa, 3. Mahlatsi
