Swallows edge City in five-goal thriller

Swallows FC edged out Cape Town City 3-2 in their DStv Premiership match at the Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto on Tuesday evening.

Therefore, Amaswaiswai returned to winning ways after starting their 2022-23 campaign with a 1-0 defeat to Orlando Pirates away in the Soweto Derby encounter over the weekend.

City, meanwhile, recorded their second consecutive defeat in the new term, having lost 2-0 to Mamelodi Sundowns on Friday. Swallows will now take on Maritzburg United on Friday, while City will be away to AmaZulu FC on Saturday.

Amaswaiswai looked hungry for goals in the opening stages of the game with Tshidiso Patjie looking lively. The speedy winger was involved in the build-up when Swallows took a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute as he set up Penjtie Zulu, whose cross was headed home by Waseem Isaacs to open the scoring.

The hosts were soon 2-0 up in the 23rd minute after a good move by the Soweto giants. Lindokuhle Mtshali found some space on the edge of the City box before playing a lovely pass to Patjie, who fired past reigning DStv Premiership Goalkeeper of the Season Hugo Marques with a hard and low shot to double Swallows' lead.

However, the Citizens improved gradually as the match progressed and they were looking dangerous against the run of play.

Khanyisa Mayo played a through pass for Darwin Gonzalez, who rounded keeper Thakasani Mbanjwa before firing into an empty net to make it 2-1 in the 31st minute. Swallows were leading 2-1 at the interval after containing City.

The Citizens were the better side after the restart - keeping possession well in Amaswaiswai's half and playing crosses into the hosts' box.

Parity was restored in the 62nd minute when Khanyisa Mayo poked the ball home from close range after his header was blocked by Mbanjwa - making it 2-2.

Stand-in coach Musa Nyatama decided to introduce Naeem Amoojee and Siboniso Mtshali as the hosts looked to restore their lead.

Amoojee had a good chance to score after bursting into the visitors' box, but the 25-year-old attacker ballooned his effort over the crossbar after the City defence was exposed.

The hosts kept pushing for a goal in the closing stages of the match and they were awarded a penalty after Patjie was fouled in the visitors' box.

Siboniso Mtshali made no mistake from the penalty spot - firing past Marques to seal Swallows' 3-2 win in stoppage time.

Swallows (2) 3 (Isaacs 16', Patjie 23', S. Mtshali 90'+2 pen)

City (1) 2 (Gonzalez 31', Mayo 62')

Swallows: Mbanjwa, Mthethwa (Khupe 73'), Mngonyama (Amoojee 72'), Zulu (Letlabika 39'), L. Mtshali (Matsheke 85'), Lukhubeni, Sait, Patjie, Wambi, Sasman, Isaacs (S. Mtshali 73').

City: Marques, Fisher (Van Heerden 83'), Cupido, Fielies, Mokeke, Ambina, Nodada (Mdantsane 75'), Kajally (Daniels 60'), Martin, Gonzales, Mayo.