Almost 25 years to the day after losing a memorable Mainstay Cup final against Orlando Pirates at Orlando Stadium, Moroka Swallows buried the ghost of that landmark defeat with a throbbing 3-1 Premier Soccer League (PSL) victory over their old derby rivals at Orlando Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
It was the first time the teams had met at the tradition-steeped Soweto stadium in a game of this dimension since the 3-2 thriller in 1980.
And Pirates supporters in the 22 000 crowd, who have labelled themselves ”The Ghost”, seemed so stunned after the outcome they may not have minded the ground swallowing them up as they tried to comprehend the implications of the defeat.
The Buccaneers have now seen successive defeats against traditional rivals Kaizer Chiefs and Swallows in a matter of eight days. What at one stage seemed an impregnable advantage at the top of the PSL log now hangs by a thread, with Mamelodi Sundowns a mere point behind with a game in hand.
Swallows, in the process, joined the title contenders on a sultry but overcast afternoon and deserved their historic victory after going behind 1-0 through a clinical, angled goal from Benedict Vilakazi in the 19th minute that was planted into the roof of the net with the precision of a snooker master.
Instead of folding up on the big occasion — as they have been guilty of in recent times — Swallows hit back almost immediately and Tsweu Mokoro equalised in the 25th minute after Pirates goalkeeper Francis Chansa could only deflect a free kick from Warren Lewis.
With what was almost a duplicate of the goal, the alert and lively Mokoro gave the Birds the lead in the 49th minute after Chansa could only parry the ball into his path following a stinging ground shot from Ashley Opperman.
And Mokoro, a constant thorn in the side of Pirates, missed an absolute sitter that could have given him a hat-trick in the 82nd minute when substitute Edzai Kasinauyo’s cross left him with the goal at his mercy.
Swallows, however, could not be denied despite incurring continual pressure and some scary moments in the final 20 minutes, with Lefa Tsutsulupa sealing a famous win when he lobbed the ball into the net over the head of a helpless Chansa as the Birds struck from a telling counter-attack.
The victory was conspicuous for a heroic defensive display by Swallows central defender Warren Lewis, who tackled like a man possessed and saved the situation on the few occasions that composed Nigerian international goalkeeper Greg Etafia appeared in any trouble.
Game called off
The PSL game between Bloemfontein Celtic and Ajax Cape Town was called off at the Seisa Ramabodu Stadium in Bloemfontein on Sunday afternoon after the referee ruled the ground’s conditions were unfit for play.
The goal posts and markings on the pitch did not conform to Fifa rules and Ajax claimed they were booked to return to Cape Town at 7pm and could not wait for the shortcomings to be rectified.
A PSL official said the circumstances of the postponement would be examined and a decision made whether and when the game could be played. — Sapa