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was Sea Birds’ second draw in row after their midweek goalless draw with Mbabane Swallows, but it was enough to move them two places up the charts to third after Green Mamba lost to Mbabane Swallows while Madlenya were inactive. For Callies, it was their first draw after two defeats and a single win.
Hunger
The game came into life in the second half after, as the teams showed hunger to score. It was Callies who first broke the deadlock through the boot of Collen Tembe who finished from close range in the 56th minute. This sent CoachChristian Thwala into panic mode and immediately pulled out Gcinizwi Dlamini and Wandile Nhleko for Mthokozisi Gwebu and Innocent Dlamini. Two minutes later, his substitution paid off as Muzi Tsabedze levelled the matters after chipping in the ball past Ncanawe Ndlandla, who was introduced at the start of the second half.
Unlucky
Minutes later, Captain Simanga Shongwe was unlucky, as he failed to finish off a cross by Ntokozo Dlamini inside the box. Vusisizwe Mahlalela who commanded the bench in the absence of Sifiso
‘Nuro’ Ntibane, who is away with the National Under-23s in Egypt did not hesitate to pull him out and Tembe, for Aichel Calane and Lungisani Mamba. In the 68th minute, Calane put Callies ahead through connecting well with a cross from Mazwi Sihlongonyane.
Pace
Callies then slowed down their pace, running down the clock and picking unnecessary bookings. Sea Birds remained relentless despite the setback and kept on forcing the combinations that materialised at 89 minutes with Mthokozisi Gwebu smashing the net to help Sea Birds back into the game. Callies tried but in vain as the referees final blew away their hopes of their second win in the league.