Times Of Swaziland: ‘TIGER’-INSPIRED ‘BIRDS’ BURST PIRATES’ BUBBLE

‘TIGER’-INSPIRED ‘BIRDS’ BURST PIRATES’ BUBBLE
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Machawe Fakudze on 10/02/2023 11:11:00


MBABANE – Capital city giants Mbabane Swallows beat a 10-man Moneni Pirates
2-0 in an MTN Premier League game played here yesterday.
Pirates were reduced to 10 men after defender Menzi ‘Magawugawu’ Simelane
received a straight red less than10 minutes before regulation time after he
uttered words, which did not sit well with referee Wandile Mamba.
Delivered
The Caleb Ngwenya-led side took the lead nine minutes before the hour mark
through lanky striker Sandile Hlatjwako, who nodded home a cross delivered by
the impressive Ayanda Gadlela.Umkhonto KaShaka scored the second goal to take a
comfortable lead through debutant Neliswa ‘Tiger’ Dlamini in the 76th
minute. He let fly a scorcher after receiving a nice pass from Gadlela on the
left flank, which left Pirates goalkeeper Bhekisisa Dlamini with no choice but
to watch the ball kiss the back of the net.
The game started on a low note as both teams applied cautiousness on their
approach as they failed to create meaningful attempts at goal. The first clear
chance came five minutes before half-time through Swallows, Serra Leone import
Mohamed Kabia, whose long drive outside the box flew inches above the bar. The
Ikabort Masocha charges responded quickly but were unlucky when striker Kizadi
Kitwe’s cracker narrowly missed the target at the stroke of high time.
Pressure
The score was 0-0 at half-time. Swallows came back a better side in the second
stanza as they pushed the visitors to the limit; no wonder they eventually
succumbed to the pressure as the host went on to score the two goals, which took
them three points away from log leaders Green Mamba, who have 31 points in 14
games. The results saw Swallows ending Masocha’s four games without a loss and
continued their dominance over Pirates, who last beat ‘Birds’ on May 19,
2019.