Moroka Swallows survived a late scare to defeat lower-league Black Leopards 2-1 Saturday and reach the Nedbank Cup final.

Goals from Brazilian Igor Alves and Thulani Ngcepe appeared to have sealed success for the Johannesburg-based 'Birds' as a lacklustre semifinal meandered to a close in this northern city.

But a Leopards team fighting to avoid relegation from the second tier to amateur league obscurity reduced the arrears one minute into stoppage time when captain Jabulani Maluleke fired past Nigerian goalkeeper Greg Etafia.

Swallows had to endure several anxious minutes at a sparsely populated Peter Mokaba Stadium before securing a place in the May 23 final against Ajax Cape Town or Pretoria University, another lower-league team.

Cecil Oerson came closest to breaking the stalemate in the first half with a close-range shot that beat Ugandan goalkeeper Postnet Omony only to rebound off the far post.

Alves casually tapped a cross into the net on 75 minutes despite a heroic effort by Malawian Peter Mponda to clear the ball and Ngcepe also scored from close range after Omony failed to clear a cross.