Sundowns struggled to find the back of the net against Swallows. Picture: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images.
Swallows FC managed to chisel a point out of DStv Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns as the sides drew 0-0 at the Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto.
Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena fielded a stronger and more recognizable Masandawana side compared to last time out against Eric Tinkler’s Cape Town City, but Downs could not get their shoe-shine and piano brand of football going.
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For some reason, it appeared as though the message from Sundowns’ bench was for the players to test goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi with long range shots, as players like Haashim Domingo, Teboho Mokoena and Sipho Mbule took turns to take shots from outside the box. However, none of them really had any venom to threaten the veteran goal-stopper.
There were few chances in the opening half, though Peter Shalulile did have the ball in the back of the net in the 32nd minute, but referee Jelly Chavani adjudged Shalulile’s effort to be offside.
Shaulile had another chance to get a goal when he was at the end of a Aubrey Modiba corner kick, but Swallows defenders made sure to spread themselves across the face of goal and protected Akpeyi, effectively closing down all angles for Shalulile, whose shot ballooned over the bar.
Rulani Mokwena made a couple of changes in the second stanza as his team were not clicking as they usually are. He brought in Bongani Zungu for Mokoena, while Thapelo Morena came on for Khuliso Mudau.
The man in the middle, Chavani, had to make another call that saw a Sundowns goal disallowed and this time it was Gaston Sirino who was frustrated. Sirino fired what he thought was the opener for his side but he was adjudged to have been offside before he received the ball.
The Dube Birds moved to 28 points and are level on points with AmaZulu – both sides still have a chance to move into the top eight.