MOROKA SWALLOWS VS GOLDEN ARROWS | ABSA

Competition: PSL
Date: Wednesday, 1 May 2013
Venue: Dobsonville Stdm
Kick-off: 19:30pm

Lamontville Golden Arrows have suffered a 4-1 loss to Moroka Swallows in their Absa Premiership clash at the Dobsonville Stadium on Wednesday night.

A brace from Bennett Chenene set The Birds on their way, before Katlego Mashego added another two in the second half. Musa Bilankulu got a late consolation for the visitors. Abafana Bes’thende improved after halftime and had some chances, but could not force the ball into the back of the net.

With first-choice goalkeeper Nkosi Gumede suspended, coach Manqoba Mngqithi handed a PSL debut to 19-year-old stopper Ricardo Goss.

It was a lively start to the game from both sides, but Swallows had an early lead when Chenene scored a rare headed goal after some static defending from the visitors. Siyabonga Nomvete headed inches wide with a diving header as he met Luvhengo Mungomeni’s cross from the right.
Chenene scored his second goal of the night – and 10th league goal of the season – when he connected with Nomvete’s cross.

Katlego Mashego was brought down in the penalty area just before the hour-mark, but the referee waved away his protestations for a penalty. The Bafana striker did have his goal on 67 minutes when he beat the offside trap to race clear and fire past Goss, who almost completed the save but watched as the ball trickled over the line.

Masonwabe Bovu shot straight at Greg Etafia after that, while Norman Smith thought he should have got a penalty for a shove in the Swallows box, but nothing was given. Arrows got a goal back after great battling from Smith against Giorgi Nergadze saw him with the ball and cross for Bilankulu to side-foot home.

But there would be no late fight-back as Swallows took advantage of the gaps at the back with the visitors pushing forward, but Obada crossed for Mashego to score.

Next up for Abafana Bes’thende is a home meeting with title-chasing Platinum Stars on May 11.

MATCH STATS
Moroka Swallows (2) 4 (Chenene 12, 41, Mashego 67, 90)
Lamontville Golden Arrows (0) 1 (Bilankulu 89)

Swallows: Etafia, Isaacs, Mungomeni, Da Costa, Lekgothoane, Nergadze, Tsutsulupa, Chenene (Mathebula 76’), Mabalane (Chabangu 54’), Mashego, Nomvete (Obada 85’).

Arrows: Goss, Sikhakhane, Musonda, Bilankulu, Shange (Tom 68’), Bovu, Madonsela, Khuboni, Hadebe, Gabuza (Nguzana 46’), Ntuli (Smith 52’)