AmaTuks upset Swallows to advance
AmaTuks .............. 1
M. Swallows ......... 2
TSHWANE – University of Pretoria have become the first team to advance into the quarter-finals of the 2023-24 Nedbank Cup after they defeated Moroka Swallows 2-1 at the Tuks Stadium in Tshwane last night.
AmaTuks, who play in the second-tier Motsepe Foundation Championship, struck via Tebogo Mohlamonyane and Thabang Sibanyoni, and secured passage into the final eight of the national cup competition. They also extended their unbeaten run across all competitions to 14 matches.
As for the top-flight Birds, this defeat adds to their woes, with the Soweto side having failed to claim an outright win in 13 matches (in the previous round of the Nedbank Cup they defeated Platinum City Rovers on penalties). Their last victory was in November 2023. The teams traded half-chances through the opening 20 minutes, before Swallows had the first genuine threat on goal when Ronald Sanou drove a powerful shot toward the top corner, but saw his effort tipped away by an excellent save from
Tuks goalkeeper Edward Maova.
Tuks responded with a fine effort of their own in the 39th minute from Mohlamonyane, but Swallows goalkeeper Daniel Akepyi was well positioned to make a comfortable save.
The interval arrived with the score 0-0, as neither team had managed to truly find an attacking rhythm in a somewhat scrappy first half. The Birds opted for a triple change at the start of the second stanza, as Frank Mhango, Lindokuhle Mtshali and Thakasani Mbanjwa were introduced to try and boost their attacking options.
And the hosts kept up that momentum, deservedly claiming the lead on 57 minutes when Mohlamonyane latched onto a half-clearance and hit a left-footed volley through a crowded penalty area to find the back of the net and break the deadlock. Swallows gradually built attacking pressure and duly levelled the game in the 79th minute via youngster Mbanjwa. The match looked set for an extra 30 minutes, but in injury time a diagonal from Sikhosonke Langa found its way to substitute Thabang Sibanyoni, who cracked a low volley beyond Akpeyi to secure a famous win for AmaTuks.