Late drama unfolded at the Dobsonville Stadium on Sunday afternoon as Swallows FC and TS Galaxy played to a 0-0 draw. Swallows made one change to the side that beat Chippa United, as Philani Zulu was recalled, while the Rockets made two alterations from their draw against Stellenbosch, as goalkeeper Vasilije Kolak took the place of the injured Melusi Buthelezi alongside a recall for Xola Mlambo.
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Swallows FC 0 – 0 TS Galaxy pic.twitter.com/39wVgpzVsB
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Ernst Middendorp’s charges were lively in the opening exchanges, as they threatened going forward but they were not clinical in front of goal. The game was mainly contested in midfield midway through the first stanza, as the sides cancelled each other out. However, Sead Ramovic’s men gained momentum soon thereafter as Orebotse Mongae had a good chance ten minutes before the interval after going through on the blind-side but his thumping shot was bravely saved by goalkeeper Thakasani Mbanjwa.
Galaxy continued to shade the contest towards the end of the first stanza as they frequented Swallows’ box but they were not decisive either, as the sides remained deadlocked at halftime.
Middendorp’s men started the second stanza on the back foot as they were reduced to ten men just from the break after Gregory Damons was red-carded for a dangerous tackle on Mlungisi Mbunjana. The German mentor reacted by making a defensive change as Darrel Matsheke replaced Kagiso Malinga and as the game remained on the balance with 22 minutes remaining, Ramovic needed fresh legs in attack as Sibusiso Vilakazi replaced Bernard Parker.
With a numerical advantage, the Rockets had the momentum in the closing stages as they pinned Swallows back in and around their box but they struggled to create an end product. Swallows managed to escape the press in the dying minutes and Keegan Allan found the back of the net with a finish on the goal-line after a header by Waseem Isaacs from a set-piece but the goal was controversially ruled out for offside.
The Birds absorbed the pressure well in stoppage time as they held on to the share of the spoils.
