Orapa Go Down Fighting
Correspondent | Monday February 20, 2017 15:21
This was during the second leg tie of the Total Confederations Cup against Botswana’s Orapa United. Before a sizeable crowd, Swallows proved their invincibility when they orchestrated a dramatic comeback to advance to the first round. The history-making Umkhonto KaShaka as Swallows are also fondly known, sprang to a dramatic comeback against an animated Orapa to reach the first round for the first time in their CAF history.
The capital city giants did not play one of their best games, but still had the verve to brush aside a spirited Orapa United, winning by 3-2 in Saturday’s pulsating but tension-filled decider to progress 4-2 on aggregate.
They have set up a date with seeded Tanzania’s 2014 League champions, Azam FC in the first round to be played on the weekend of March 10-12. The result also saw Swallows’ unbeaten run stretching to 27.
Having won by a solitary goal away in Francistown, Botswana, last week, the home side just needed a draw in weekend showdown at Somhlolo National Stadium, but had to sweat blood to eliminate the stubborn opposition, who were five minutes away from causing an upset.
After trailing the daring opposition by 2-1 in the dying minutes, dribbling wizard, Banele ‘Pupu’ Sikhondze scored the all-important equaliser before Papy Kabamba put the game to bed three minutes into added time.
Elimination would have been a stab in the heart for the hosts, who had more than half a dozen attempts on target, with goalkeeper, Kaelo Joseph’s reflex saves frustrating skipper Tony ‘TT’ Tsabedze, who was a live wire for Swallows.
Orapa had forced the roaring home supporters to have ants in the pants when they drew first blood when the game was 28 minutes old. Lemogang Maswena connected a Ronald Chikomo cross in the box and rose highest to steer home the opener.
The opening period was headlined by visiting Nambian referee, Jonas Shongedi’s decision to rightly turn a blind eye on Sabelo ‘Sikhali’ Ndzinisa’s penalty appeal as the latter dived while being challenged by Olekantse Mambo in the 45th.
The opening half was stretched to an hour as both goalkeepers had forced stoppages for medical attention. Thabo ‘Koki’ Vilakati’s troops capitalised in added time, as ‘TT’ dusted himself to calmly restore parity from 12 yards after he was floored by Kealeboga Molebatsi in the box just three minutes before the break. The score read 1-all during the break but 2-1 on aggregate.
(Times Of Swaziland)