Swallows get the points
Posted: 31 October 2009 Time: 22:47
Moroka Swallows beat Platinum Stars 1-0 in an Absa Premiership clash at Moruleng Stadium on Saturday night.
Though Stars enjoyed possession and created most of the early chances, it was Swallows who opened the scoring in the 23rd minute when midfielder Shaun Haschick beat Stars goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini with a thunderous close-range shot after he was set-up by Lungisani Ndlela and Lefa Tsutsulupa from a throw in by Ramahlwe Mphahlele.
Stars looked impressive on the attack with Stanley Kgatla, Joseph Malongoane and Tshepo Ramokala causing problems for the opposition while Swallows had the likes of Haschick, Keegan Ritchie and Lefa Tsutsulupa initiating most of the forays into the danger area.
It was also an impressive display by Mbulelo ‘OJ’ Mabizela who continues to make a strong case for himself in the Bafana Bafana squad with 2010 World Cup just a few months ago.
It got worse for Stars as they had to play the remaining three minutes of the first half and referee’s optional time with 10-men when Ramokala was stretched off the pitch with what looked like a serious injury and they had already made all their substitutions.
In the 58th minute, Stars' defence were nearly punished when they allowed a free-kick to land on the path of Phumelele Bhengu inside the box but the South African junior international could not find the target.
Stars came close to the equaliser in the dying minutes but Kagiso Senamela's long-range shot was saved by Etafia who improved from his early mistakes as the game progressed.
HOME: Platinum Stars
- 16 Tapuwa Kapini
- 2 Mamadimo Masenya
- 4 Oscar Ntwagae
61 mins - George Mofokeng - 16 Almiro Lobo
- 80 Mbulelo Mabizela
- 6 Stanley Kgatla
55 mins - Norikazu Murakami - 23 Joseph Molangoane
75 mins - Jabu Mahlangu - 28 Tshepo Ramokala
- 9 Alton Meiring
- 32 Kagiso Senamela
- 80 Luis Renteria
AWAY: Swallows FC
- 34 Greg Etafia
- 2 Ramahlwe Mphahlele
- 6 Ashraf Hendricks
- 14 Morgan Shivambu
89 mins - Mfundo Shumana - 22 Thomas Cichon
- 23 Keegan Ritchie
- 12 Lefa Tsutsulupa
- 23 Kagiso Denge
- 7 Shaun Haschick
56 mins - Davi Rancan - 9 Phumelele Bhengu
74 mins - Igor Alves - 20 Lungisani Ndlela
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