MTN8 match report | Swallows oust Orlando Pirates – 14 August

Swallows FC knocked out defending champions Orlando Pirates 2-1 to book their place in the MTN8 semi-finals on Saturday.

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This was the original Soweto Derby, and the expectations were high, especially for Josef Zinnbauer who won the trophy last season.

However, it wasn’t to be as his side didn’t do enough to win the game despite all the hype around them.

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The encounter started frantically so with Swallows taking the leading in the 16th minute through Ruzaigh Gamildien.

Gamildien beat Richard Ofori with a sublime free-kick finish from outside box to give Swallows a 1-0.

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Gamildien would double Swallows’ lead with a sublime following a goalkeeping howler by Richard Ofori in the 23rd minute.

Pirates pulled one back from the penalty spot through Kabelo Dlamini after 30 minutes, and this after Deon Hotto was brought down by Virgil Vries inside the box.

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It was 2-1 to Swallows at the break, and Pirates knew they needed a different approach in order to improve in the second half.

The second half saw Pirates make wholesale changes as Zinnbauer was under immense pressure to win the game.

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Pirates tried a comeback with the likes of Gabadinho Mhango coming into the fray but it wasn’t to be as Swallows stood firm and defended as a unit.

Ultimately, the Dube Birds proved too strong for Pirates as they booked their place in the MTN8 semi-finals.

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