By Siphesihle Dlamini
Mbabane Swallows and Royal Leopard battled to a 1-all draw at Mavuso Trade and Exhibition Centre in a highly contested match.
The ‘Beautiful Birds’, Mbabane Swallows, started the first half slowly, finding themselves trailing after a simple tap-in goal from Leopard’s Simanga Masangane.
The goal gave Leopard a valuable lead going into the break, leaving the Swallows with a challenging task ahead.
However, the second half saw a complete turnaround in the game. With the introduction of Siyabonga Zwane, a fan favourite known for his skills and flair, ‘Umkhonto Ka Shaka’ dominated the field. Their relentless efforts paid off when their versatile striker, Felix Badenhorst, tapped in a loose ball to equalize the score.
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The ‘Beautiful Birds’ came close to taking the lead in the 71st minute when Sandile Hlatjwako hit the post from a brilliant pass from Felix.
The tension in the stadium reached its peak as the capital city giants hustled and continued to press for a winning goal.
In the 85th minute, Gadlela had a golden opportunity to secure victory for the ‘Beautiful Birds,’ but Leopard goalkeeper Ncamiso Dlamini brilliantly saved his shot.
As the clock ticked to the last minute, Sizolethu Shabalala missed a chance to secure all three points for the Swallows.