Santos consolidated their position on the top of the PSL log when they thrashed Moroka Swallows 5-1 at the Athlone Stadium on Wednesday night after leading 1-0 at half-time.
And the difference could have been even bigger if Santos had not wasted three easy opportunities in the first half.
The most glaring of these misses occurred in the fourth minute when Santos’s Jonathan Solomons, passed to Fees Moloi who managed to round Swallows goalkeeper, Etafia Greg, but somehow contrived to shoot wide of a gaping goalmouth.
Santos opened their account in the 22nd minute when Thembile Kanono did manage to slip past Greg. Swallows coach, Gavin Hunter, must have given his team a tongue lashing in the dressing room because they came out with more purpose after the break.
And it showed when Swallows Mark Mcveigh’s well driven shot was brilliantly saved by Santos goalie Brenden Wardle in the opening minutes.
But it was the home side who doubled their lead in the 47th minute through a Ricardo Manetti strike from the edge of the box.
Swallows did pull one back in the 56th minute via the boot of Captain Goodman Mazibuko with a glorious 30-metre pile driver.
This spurred Santos to greater heights and Marawaan Bantam added their third in the 75th minute, their fourth came two minutes later from the head of sub Jean Marc-Ithier and to complete the rout, Musa Ongao, made it five with two minutes left on the clock.
The result sees Santos move five points clear on top of the log ahead of second placed Ajax Cape Town. – Sapa