| Goals | Goals |
|---|---|
| 14. Lerato Chabangu (33’) | |
| 10. Siyabonga Nomvethe (63’) |
Birds down Usuthu to reach semis
Tsweu Mokoro of AmaZulu challenged by Benett Chenene of Moroka Swallows during the MTN8 Quarter Finals
The home side dominated the opening fifteen minutes of the game with Nomvethe and Chabangu showing their intentions early in the game, but the AmaZulu defence was able to withstand their initial attacks.
The first real chance of the match fell for Ayanda Dlamini in the 20th minute but he sent his shot over the crossbar after doing well to go wide of Greg Etafia, while Josef Lekata was denied by the Swallows goalkeeper five minutes later.
Zeca Marques side opened the scoring in the 33rd minute as Chabangu showed composure to sidefoot the ball in at the far post, connecting with a pinpoint cross from Lefa Tsutsulupa.
AmaZulu’s best chance of the half came in the third minute of added time but Kagiso Senamela’s well-taken freekick came off the crossbar, leaving Swallows in the lead at the break.
Swallows came back firing in the second half as they looked to stretch their advantage, with Ashraf Hendricks forcing a great save from Tapuwa Kapini in the 58th minute, while Giorgi Nergadze saw his header coming off the post four minutes later.
The pressure paid off in the 63rd minute as Chabangu continued tormenting the Usuthu defence on the right flank before delivering a cross for Nomvethe to nod the ball past a helpless Kapini.
Roger Palmgren’s men then started committing men forward in the closing stages of the match as they looked to pull one goal back, but continued to waste their chances.
Mbele fired a volley wide from close range in the 80th minute before Goodman Dlamini also rushed his shot wide moments later.
Substitute Sifiso Vilakazi also failed to hit the target in the 86th minute after receiving a great pass from Dlamini, while Van Heerden also saw his freekick coming off the crossbar a minute later.
Chenene had the chance to put the result beyond doubt in the 88th minute when he was put through on the right, but his shot came off the upright.
Moroka Swallows (0) 2 (Chabangu 33’, Nomvethe 63’)
AmaZulu 0
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