Moroka Swallows, down to 10 men, did well to hold Supersport United to a goalless draw in a drama-packed Castle Premiership clash played at the Rand Stadium on Sunday.
The Birds’ goal mouth survived a number of close escapes in injury time. But, in the end, the plucky Birds held on for a deserved draw.
Swallows had the better of the early action in the first half. Midfielder Cecil Oerson squandered a glorious chance to score in the seventh minute. Oerson, who was in front of goal, failed to control a pin-point cross from teammate Gary McNab and the chance was wasted.
McNab was unlucky when his free kick from the edge of the penalty area was deflected for a corner in the 28th minute.
But Swallows goalkeeper Conrad Hendricks was saved by ”Bad Boy” Opperman, who headed Richard Ranjie’s shot off his goal line after Hendricks had rushed out of his area. This allowed Rantjie to lob the ball goalwards in the 31st minute.
Four minutes later, Opperman headed for an early shower after referee Peter Mabuza booked him for a second time after a crunching tackle on Tsweu Mokoro.
United almost scored a minute after the sending-off when skipper Ricardo Katza thudded a header against the crossbar.
The second half only came alive late in the game. Former Birds striker Lungisani Ndlela, who was booed by the Birds fans, had a header saved by Hendricks in the 85th minute. Substitute Dale Studzinski then volleyed over the cross bar in the 89th minute.
The drama erupted in the five minutes of injury time when Hendricks made two brilliant saves off Siboniso Gaxa.
The first was a one-on-one that the ‘keeper won. Then Hendricks acrobatically snatched the ball out of his net with the United players screaming that the ball had crossed the line.
However, the assistant referee and Mabuza waved play on and Swallows survived with a point. — Sapa