Swallows missed the chance to move third in the DStv Premiership after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Bloemfontein Celtic
Swallows missed the chance to move third in the DStv Premiership after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Bloemfontein Celtic on Tuesday evening.
Celtic made two changes coming in to the tie as shot-stopper Sipho Chaine and Given Mashikinya were recalled while the Birds welcomed back their top scorer Ruzaigh Gamildien after his suspension.
The hosts had to re-shuffle their stall midway through the first stanza after Ndumiso Mabena pulled his hamstring and was replaced by fellow striker Harris Tchilimbou.
Brandon Truter's charges continued to play on counter-attacks, with Kgaogelo Sekgota's attempted lover over the onrushing Chaine sailing wide of a gaping night.
Suddenly the match opened up after that as Tchilimbou came close to snatching the lead for Celtic with a ricochet off his shoulder from a corner situation but Njabulo Ngcobo was at hand to head his effort off the line.
The opening goal arrived shortly after the break as Chaine's poor pass out from the back was intercepted by Sekgota, who sent a low volley into an empty net.
However, John Maduka's charges quickly equalised five minutes later courtesy of a strike by Neo Maema just inside the box that took a deflection and wrong-footed goalkeeper Virgil Vries.
Truter responded with a change in the 66th minute by bringing on midfielder Sammy Seabi in place of Zaphaniah Mbokoma while the hosts introduced Sera Motebang for Menzi Masuku two minutes.
Maema was unfortunate not to give Siwelele the lead in the last quarter of an hour with a dipping strike from outside the box that came off the post before Lucky Baloyi was superbly denied by Vries moments. later.
Truter was going for broke in the last six minutes with a double substitution, as Joseph Mhlongo came on for Kamohelo Mahlatsi while Bantu Mzwakali replaced Sekgota.
The change nearly paid off Mzwakali had a glorious chance to snatch the winner after receiving a cross unmarked in the box but he scuffed his volley with the last kick of the game, as the encounter finished all square in the Free State.
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