Jomo Cosmos appear to have run out of luck and remain rooted to the bottom of the Absa Premiership after an injury time goal from Brazilian Igor Alves earned Moroka Swallows a fortunate 2-1 win over Ezenkosi at the Rand Stadium on Saturday night.

It was heartbreaking for coach Jomo Cosmos and his players who had done more than enough not just to draw but to win the match. They were the better side in the second half after an even first half that ended 1-1.

Even 'Birds' coach Rainer Zobel admitted afterwards his side had not played well and were lucky to win.

It was a cruel deflection from substitute and birthday boy Larry Cohen, trying to block Alves' shot, who deflected the ball into his own net late into injury time.

Cosmos, who were promoted at the start of the season, belied their lowly league position. But after reaching the halfway stage of 15 matches Ezenkosi have only nine points - three behind second from bottom AmaZulu.

They will, however, need to continue where they left off against Swallows and keep their heads up in the second round of the league if they are to avoid the drop back into the First Division.

The handful of fans who turned up on a wet night were treated to a fast paced and action packed first half.

What was refreshing was that both sides decided to attack and as a result the match flowed from end to end.

Cosmos got off to the perfect start when Sekou Camara broke the deadlock with a fine finish in the 12th minute. But all credit to referee Peter Mabuza who played good advantage before the goal by allowing play to continue after Birds defender Ashraf Hendricks had fouled Siza Dlamini.

Dlamini managed to get the ball to Camara who fired an unbeatable shot past keeper Greg Etafia.

Swallows striker Lungisani Ndlela wasted two chances to level the match in the 17th and 24th minutes. The lanky forward failed to convert a cross from overlapping left back Ramahlwe Mphahlele and then blasted wide after Cosmos keeper Avril Phali fumbled Shaun Haschick's 24th minute cross.

But the pressure told in the 38th minute when rising star Sibusiso Khumalo demonstrated some neat skills to weave inside the Cosmos penalty area and shot into the far corner of the net past a bemused Phali to make it 1-1.

Cosmos tried to regain the lead but Bongani Theletsane, who was set up by Dlamini, ballooned his shot in the 40th minute over the Birds crossbar.

The hosts came out smoking after the break but failed to get past the hard working Birds defence. Etafia did well to fist a dangerous shot from Ayo Oluwafemi over his crossbar a minute into the second period.

Birds refused to buckle and managed to weather the storm. They created a great chance to snatch the lead in the 73rd minute when Gordon Gilbert missed the target with a free header from a corner.

Three minutes later the ever dangerous Haschick shaved the paint on the Cosmos woodwork with a wicked drive. Cohen almost celebrated his 22nd birthday in style with a goal but his 80th minute effort went centimetres past the the goalpost.

Etafia did brilliantly to deny Mali midfielder Gasoussou Diarra the winner with a stunning save in the 83rd minute as Cosmos kept coming forward, holding the Birds under a lot of pressure.

Then with the match heading for a draw, Alves' shot took a defection off Cohen and past Phali to earn the Birds three lucky points.