Matchday 25 - Report
Moroka Swallows 3 - Thanda Royal Zulu 1
JOHANNESBURG, April 5 (Absa Premier League) – Thanda Royal Zulu’s relegation fears increased on Sunday after two goals from Sandile Ndlovu helped Moroka Swallows claim all three points in a gripping Absa Premier League encounter in Germiston.
Thulani Ngcepe opened the scoring just after the half-hour mark, before his Birds team-mate scored either side of an Nkosinathi Nhleko strike to seal what turned out to be a comfortable win.
It left Roger Palmgren’s team now only one point clear of the drop zone after Bloemfontein Celtic’s 1-1 draw with Orlando Pirates earlier in the day.
The home side looked stronger from the start with Lefa Tsutsulupa, Phaladi Kobola and Ngcepe all firing wide early on, while Felix Obada’s 12-yard strike wide the only real effort at goal for the visitors.
Ndlovu had his first chance in the 20th minute, but put his header from Sidney Plaatjies’ cross over the bar.
However, the home crowd were up on their feet in the 13 minutes later when Mark Haskins delivered an inch-perfect cross from the left to the back post where Ngcepe was lurking to blast home from close range.
Julio Leal’s team continued to dominate for the remainder of the half, but failed to carve open any further openings and took their one goal advantage into the break.
The Amabhubesi did look more threatening early in the second half with Nhleko wasting a glorious chance after being played in by Obada – Greg Etafia in the Swallows goal watching as the poorly headed finish flew into the crowd.
Shortly after Aubrey Mathibe had to be alert to tip the ball over after a stunning 25-yard strike from Haskins looked to be heading for the top corner.
But there was nothing the Thanda custodian could do about Ndlovu’s first goal in the 58th minute, which came when Tsustsulupa picked out Cecil Oerson with a long ball that was well controlled and laid off to his striker to finish with a cross-goal finish from close-range.
Three minutes later Nhleko handed his team a lifeline after a brilliant spin and cross from Clifford Mulenga on the right, with the ball coming to the Thanda frontman at the back post to slide the ball home.
However, Ndlovu then sealed the win after playing a neat one-tow with Ngcepe on the edge of the area and took the ball around Mathibe before tapping into an empty net.
Thanda tried hard to get back in the game – substitute Mulenga twice drawing acrobatic saves from Etafia – but in the end fell short as Swallows climbed to eighth in the table.