Posted in Match Report, News on May 21, 2022.
Kaizer Chiefs (1) 2 (Ngcobo 20, Parker 85’)
Swallows FC (0) (Solomons pen 63’, pen 70’)
There was plenty of drama as Kaizer Chiefs and Swallows FC shared the spoils in their riveting final DStv Premiership game of the season,
Amakhosi took the lead in the game through Njabulo Ngcobo in the 20th minute as he headed Chiefs in front against his former team.
Swallows turned the tie in the second half with Dillon Solomons scoring a brace of spot-kicks in the 63rd and 70th minute.
Amakhosi were reduced to ten men when Phathutshedzo Nange was sent off for handling the ball on the line when Swallows were handed their first penalty.
Despite their numerical disadvantage Chiefs drew level with five minutes to go when skipper Bernard Parker turned home a free kick to see this exciting game end 2-2.
Almost immediately from the kick off Swallows made their intentions clear that they were looking to score early. A good run from Kamohelo Mahlatsi saw him break clear of the Chiefs defence and with just Bruce Bvuma in his way he dragged his attempted drive at goal tamely across and wide of goal.
Swallows ran out of steam and Chiefs got the upper hand as the rain came.
Amakhosi dampened their visitor’s spirits as a good passage of play from Chiefs led to Amakhosi winning a corner on the right. Chiefs played it short and eventually the ball reached Reeve Frosler, whose perfectly flighted delivery into the box saw Ngcobo rise up above Junaid Sait and head the ball past a static Jody February, putting Chiefs up 1-0 in the 20th minute.
Going behind seemed to spark Swallows back into life ad they launched a series of attacks. They came close to finding an equalizer in the 29th minute when Dillan Solomons cross from the right was a telling one. He managed to find Mwape Musonda, but the latter could not keep his header on target and headed the ball over Bvuma’s goal.
Mahlatsi came close to finding the leveller himself with another good run through the middle in the 32nd minute, which saw him pass Kearyn Baccus and Ramahlwe Mphalele before curling the ball around Bvuma, but his effort went wide.
Chiefs were under pressure again in the 35th minute when Fawaaz Basadien’s free kick from the left was deflected into the path of Lebohang Mokoena by Baccus. The Swallows captain struck the ball on the volley and had Bvuma crouching down to block the ball with his chest, the Chiefs keeper eventually getting the ball under control at the second time of asking.
Basadien’s dead balls were proving to be troublesome for Chiefs and in the 44th minute his corner from the left was once again accurate, with Sait climbing to meet his lay-up, heading the ball goalwards only for Bvuma to push out a hand and clear the danger.
Swallows finished the half strongly as first Bvuma was unable to get a shot from the right under control and knocked it against his left hand up right and then in referee’s optional time he pushed away Strydom Wambi’s effort on goal.
Chiefs successfully rode out the storm and led 1-0 at the break.
In the 63rd Swallows were awarded a penalty after Nange handled the ball on the line. Solomons sent Bvuma the wrong way and levelled the scores. Nange was sent off for his indiscretion.
Swallows were awarded another penalty in the 70th minute, this time Bvuma guessed right, but he was beaten again by Solomons.
With Swallows seemingly happy to wind down the clock and hold on to their top-flight status, Parker went on a run and was brought down on the edge of the 18-yard area. The Chiefs skipper dusted himself off and lifted the ball over the Swallows wall and past February to make the score 2-2.
Chiefs were unable to finish in the top three, denying them African football for next season, but they did have a huge say in sending their Soweto rivals into the relegation play-offs, as the point earned by Swallows did not help their cause.
With Swallows players falling down at the end of the game dejected, they now turn their attention to the promotion relegation play-offs, while Chiefs will look ahead to the 2022-23 season.
Line-ups:
Chiefs: Bvuma (16); Mphahlele (2) ( Dube 45’), Nj Ngcobo (27), Frosler (39), Blom (45), Nange (24), Baccus (6) (Mabiliso 66’), Parker (25) (Nk Ngcobo 87’), Mashiane (33) (Shabalala 87’), Radebe (33) (Kambole 67’), Billiat (11)
Substitutes not used: Petersen (1); Mathoho (3), Mabiliso (26), Agay (5) Sifama (46)
Cautions: 45. N. Blom 35’, 16. B. Bvuma 49’, 19. Mashiane 63’, 27. Nj. Ngcobo 69’
Dismissal: 24. Nange 62’
Coach: Arthur Zwane
Swallows: February (31), Basadien (24), Letlabika (5), Sait (34), Margeman (21), Saleng (10) (Ndlovu 57’), Wambi (47), Solomons (18), Musonda (20) (Makgwalwa 90’), Mokoena (9) (Mhlongo 57’), Mahlatsi (3)
Substitutes not used: Tshabalala (50), Nene (45), Malinga (26), Sibiya (2), Thibedi (14), Mvelase (11)
Cautions: 31. Basadien 53’
Coach: Dylan Kerr
