Moroka Swallows came back from the goal down to beat Golden Arrows 3-1 in an Absa Premiership match at the Chatsworth Stadium in Durban on Saturday night.
Ultimately Arrows opened the score through a typically
opportunist goal from Richard Henyekane two minutes after the
interval ? but instead of heralding an anticipated period of
domination by the Durban club it was the Birds who swooped on a
productive late flight, equalising through Zambian international
and former Kaizer Chiefs striker Collins Mbesuma and ending up
imperiously on top.
Mbesuma finally demonstrated traces of the lethal finishing that
was largely responsible for Chiefs annexing their last league title
some four years ago ? emerging with a second goal in the 67th
minute and demonstrating that he can still be a force to be
reckoned with.
Substitute David Radebe had the ball in the net five minutes
later, but was correctly ruled off-side ? only to pop up again in
the 74th minute when his shot took a wicked deflection and ended in
the net for Swallows' third goal.
The victory continued an impressive run of away victories for
the Birds, moving them into a position among the top eight teams in
the log and raising expectations of improved form while playing at
home as well.
Arrows, for their part, continued to be an enigma in league
matches after crushing Ajax Cape Town 6-0 in the MTN8 final last
month ? and this time they abandoned a habit of drawing their games
and ended pointless.
But for a sensational save on the goalline by central defender
Ashraf Hendricks after Swallows goalkeeper Greg Etafia had already
been beaten, Arrows would have been in front in the 15th minute.
In all, they had 20 shots at goal in the first half, yet ended
up scoring only two minutes after the interval after Henyekane had
intercepted an Etafia clearance.
The Nigerian international goalkeeper, however, made amends with
several timely interceptions and two breathtaking saves when Arrows
threatened to score again.