Times Of Swaziland: ’DOWNS ADD TO BLACK SWALLOWS WOES

’DOWNS ADD TO BLACK SWALLOWS WOES
================================================================================
Machawe Fakudze on 20/10/2024 15:54:00


MBABANE – Denver Sundowns scored on both halves to beat Pigg’s Peak Black
Swallows 2-1 in a lukewarm MTN National First Division (NFD) matched, played
here yesterday.
It was former Hhohho Regional Football League (HRFA) now-defunct Super League
outfit PMT midfielder Bandile ‘Jali’ Nxumalo, who broke the deadlock a
minute before half-time. This made the game going for a breather with Ikappa
Kappa enjoying the 1-0 slender lead. The ever-green Tony Brankinos extend the
Lwazi ‘Shumi’ Dlamini-coached side’s lead, when the game was just four
minutes old into the second stanza. Pigg’s Peak Black Swallows got the
consolation goal four minutes before regulation time.
It was second-half substitute Zamokuhle Mkhabela, who tapped in for goal,
benefitting from a mistake made by Sundowns goalkeeper Sibusiso Shongwe inside
the danger zone.
Coming back to the match the first 45 minutes saw both teams creating few
scoring chances as they applied a caution approach. When it seemed that the game
will go into the break, the score reading 0-0, Nxumalo unleashed a cracker,
which gave Swallows goalkeeper Bongiswa Dlamini no chance between the sticks.
The second-half saw Sundowns attacking from all cylinders and this paid off as
Brankinos extended the lead, with a scorcher.
Shongwe failed to handle a harmless cross and Mkhabela tapped in the consolation
goal in the 86th minute. The result saw Sundowns jumping to the second position
tied with leaders Lozitha Spurs on 11 points, while Swallows are on the bottom
of the log.