10-MAN ‘BIRDS’ SOAR TO TOP

(At Mayaluka Stadium)
Madlenya……….....(0)0
M.Swallows…....…..(0)1
Kingsley 53rd
BIGBEND - Mbabane Swallows have maintained their perfect start to top the charts.
After the dramatic MTN Premier League clash played at Mayaluka Stadium in Big Bend yesterday, the capital city giants extended their unbeaten run, which stretches from last season, to an impressive 28 league matches. The reigning MTN Premier League champions, who finished the game with 10 men, secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory against the struggling Madlenya, in a fiercely-contested encounter played before a spirited crowd of over 400 fans in the Lubombo Region. Swallows, who last suffered league defeat in the 1-4 upset against Green Mamba, on October 1, 2023 (2023/24 season), owe their triumph to the efforts of Kwakyi Kingsley, whose expertly executed header early in the second half, allowed them to seize all three points, propelling them to the top of the table with nine points. Meanwhile, Madlenya languishes at the bottom, still searching for their first points of the season.

While the ‘Birds’ have registered three consecutive victories since the start of the season - previously overcoming Manzini Sea Birds 2-0 over the weekend - the same cannot be said for Madlenya, who have suffered defeats in all three of their league matches, including a disheartening 3-0 loss to Illovo in their last outing. The match commenced with a glimmer of hope for the visitors when Madlenya’s Mncedisi Magagula handled the ball inside the penalty area, prompting the referee to award a penalty just four minutes into the game. Siphosethu Mabilisa stepped up to take the spot-kick, but his attempt narrowly missed the target, sliding inches past the right post in the fifth minute.

squandered

Madlenya nearly broke the deadlock themselves in the 10th  minute, but Sethu Ngcamphalala’s effort sailed over the crossbar. Sandile Hlatswako, making his first start of the season, also squandered a potential opportunity in the 20th minute, sending a powerful shot just off target. The first half concluded with both teams locked in a stalemate, as neither could find the back of the net. In the second-half, Coach Caleb Ngwenya made tactical adjustments, substituting Phiwokuhle Shabangu and Melusi Dlamini for Philiso Newman and Siyabonga Zwane.
The introduction of the duo proved pivotal; a free-kick delivered by Philiso was expertly met by Ayanda Gadlela, whose header struck the woodwork, allowing Kingsley to finish with a well-placed header, sending the visiting fans into raptures, just eight minutes after the restart.Zwane came close to doubling the lead at the hour mark but hesitated too long in the face of pressure and was dispossessed shortly thereafter. Madlenya nearly equalised, when Sthembiso Msibi’s close-range tap-in went awry, missing the target by mere inches in the 61st  minute.

replaced

In the 65th minute, Biko Sibandze, fresh off scoring against Sea Birds, replaced Sandile Hlatswako. The game took a dramatic twist for Swallows, when Karim Madja received a red card for a reckless tackle on Madlenya’s Mfundo Gamedze with 20 minutes to go. Tensions flared when a minor altercation broke out between Madlenya and Swallows fans near the visitors’ goalkeeper, but the situation was quickly defused by police intervention in the 75th  minute, allowing the match to continue with relative calm. Madlenya had another chance to level the score, but Bongumusa Fakudze’s strike sailed harmlessly over. The new MTN log leaders almost added to their advantage with a late opportunity; Mabilisa’s cross evaded the grasp of Siyabonga Zwane, who inexplicably failed to convert from close range - an astonishing miss in the two minutes of added time. It did not matter in the end, as the lone strike was enough to grind all three points on the road.

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