DStv Premiership match report Swallows v Orlando Pirates 14 December 2021

Pirates made only one change to the side that beat TS Galaxy, as Thembinkosi Lorch was handed his first start of the season while the Birds rotated the team, with Monnapule Saleng among those recalled against his parent club.

The Buccaneers had a perfect start after Bandile Shandu gave them the lead in the third minute with a toe-poked finish past goalkeeper Jody February after a through ball by Fortune Makaringe.

However, the visitors' lead did not last long as Swallows were awarded a penalty in the 15th minute after Makaringe brought down Keletso Makgalwa in a scramble in the the box and Ruzaigh Gamildien was clinical with his spot-kick to level matters.

Pirates started to drop deep in their own half after that, with Fani Madida's charges doing most of the attacking and that led to the likes of Lorch being ineffective in the latter stages of the first stanza.

2020/21: Bradley Grobler (SuperSport United, 16 goals) – still at SuperSport United

2019/20: Peter Shalulile (Highlands Park) & Gabadinho Mhango (Orlando Pirates, 16 goals each) – Shaulile is now at Mamelodi Sundowns while Mhango is still with Pirates

2018/19: Mwape Musonda (Black Leopards, 16 goals) – now at Swallows FC

2017/18: Percy Tau (Mamelodi Sundowns) & Rodney Ramagalela (Polokwane City, 11 goals each) – Tau is now at Al Ahly while Ramagalela is at Chippa United

2016/17: Lebogang Manyama (Cape Town City, 13 goals) – now at Kaizer Chiefs

2015/16: Collins Mbesuma (Mpumalanga Black Aces, 14 goals) – now at Pretoria Callies

2014/15: Moeketsi Sekola (Free State Stars, 14 goals) – back at Free State Stars

2013/14: Bernard Parker (Kaizer Chiefs, 10 goals) – still at Kaizer Chiefs

2012/13: Katlego Mashego (Moroka Swallows, 13 goals) – retired, most recently "assisting" at Tshwane South College

2011/12: Siyabonga Nomvethe (Moroka Swallows, 20 goals) – retired, assistant coach at AmaZulu

Scroll through the gallery to see where the last 10 winners of the Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot award are now

The game opened up in the early exchanges of the second stanza and Swallows were unfortunate not to take the lead on the hour-mark after Kamohelo Mahlatsi guided a cut-back in the box past goalkeeper Siyabonga Mpontshane but Paseka Mako made a goal-line clearance.

The Birds remained in attack as Tebogo Langerman went through on goal and came close to making it 2-1 four minutes later with a low strike across goal that was saved by Mpontshane with his trailing leg.

Pirates re-shuffled the pack in the last 20 minutes with a double change, as Goodman Mosele replaced Terrence Dzvukamanja and Kwame Peprah made way for Boitumelo Radiopane for fresh legs upfront.

The game was on the edge in the closing stages with end to end attacks but both defences remained resolute, as then encounter finish all square as a point took Swallows up to 13th while the visitors moved a point behind second-placed Kaizer Chiefs in third spot.

Swallows: February, Letlabika, Sasman, Matlaba, Langerman, Mokoena, Margeman, Saleng, Makgalwa, Gamildien, Mahlatsi.

Subs: Ngobeni, Thibedi, Nene, Musonda, Ndlovu, Wambi, Sibiya, Muwowo, Basadien.

Pirates: Mpontshane, Nyauza, Ndah, Shandu, Mako, Monare, Makaringe, Hotto, Lorch, Dzvukamanja, Peprah

Subs: Sandilands, Radiopane, Mngonyama, Makhubela, Maela, Mosele, Sam, Dlamini, Mhango.