Swallows edge five-goal thriller
Edward Manqele’s hat-trick gave Moroka Swallows a 3-1 victory over MP Black Aces in an Absa Premiership match at the Dobsonville stadium on Friday night.
The five-goal thriller started with Aces on the front foot, Mabhudi Khenyeza making darting runs behind the Swallows defence and causing all sorts of problems. He turned his maker inside the box but narrowly shot wide ten minutes into the game.
Manqele, on-loan from Mamelodi Sundowns put the home side ahead with a easy tap-in after Siyabonga Nomvete was denied by Aces keeper but the ball fell kindly to Manqele to slot home on 18 minutes.
Manqele produced a moment of class to double the Dube Birds’ lead in the 24th minute with a superb volley after a good cross from Nomvete on the left.
Aces’ Thabo Qalinge responded in kind to reduce the deficit to 2-1 minutes later, he reacted the quickest inside the box after Swallows failed to clear their lines by unleashing powerful shot inside the box.
The PSL rookies kept on probing in search of the equaliser and that left them exposed at the back as Swallows looked dangerous on the break. The game went into the break at with Swallows leading 2-1.
The second half began with Aces throwing men forward in search of a second goal to level the score but wasted a number of good chances. Manqele completed his hat-trick in the 56 minute with a simple tap-in after Dikgang Mabalane broke free on the right.
Aces will have themselves to blame for being wasteful in fornt of goal as they failed to trouble Greg Etafia when faced with goal scoring opportunities.
Cliver Barker's men did however, pull a goal back but it was a case of too little too late. Clifford Ngobeni beat Etafia with a well taken goal on the edge of the area deep into injury time, but it was not to be as Swallows held on for victory.
Katlego Modiba