Kaizer Chiefs slotted a last-gasp winner to edge Moroka Swallows 3-2 in a thrilling Soweto derby match at Soccer City on Tuesday night.

 

The first chance came just six minutes in with Bernard Parker firing straight at Greg Etafia after Siphiwe Tshabalala’s deflected low cross broke to him.

 

A minute later Tshabalala showed great skill to break on the right before playing Lehlohonolo Majoro through and he picked out the on-rushing Reneilwe Letsholonyane who dinked his finish over the goalkeeper to put the hosts ahead.

 

Swallows responded in the 15th minute when Lerato Chabangu played a perfect throughball down the middle for Bennett Chenene but his attempted chip over Itumeleng Khune sailed wide of the post.

 

Two minutes later Katlego Mashego was fouled by Letsholonyane outside the area and his powerful strike from the resulting free-kick had to be saved by Khune.

 

Chiefs continued to press forward and in the 26th minute Tshabalala played a neat one-two with Willard Katsande before cutting along the edge of the area but his eventual shot was scuffed wide of the target.

 

Moments later Tefu Mashamaite had to make a superb last-ditch challenge to prevent Swallows from bursting through.

 

The Dube Birds would pull the game level in the 33rd minute though when Gilbert Mapemba lashed a low cross into the area where Chabangu was in acres of space and he confidently side-footed home.

 

The visitors had two quick chances straight after the goal with Chenene again breaking through but scuffing his shot across the face of goal before Mashego’s cross from the left hit the woodwork.

 

George Lebese was then played in by a ball over the top at the other end and his deflected square-ball to the far post was poked just wide by the stretching Parker.

 

The Glamour Boys would restore the advantage in the 38th with Letsholonyane taking possession before playing a great one-two at the edge area with Parker and slamming a first-time finish in at the near post.

 

Chiefs wanted to add to their tally and could have in the 42nd minute but after Majoro latched on to a poor back pass, he tried to round Etafia but his effort from a fairly tight angle sailed harmlessly wide.

 

Swallows were living dangerously and in the 45th minute Mashamaite had a header cleared off the line before Majoro’s glancing header seconds later bounced off the turf and against the top of the crossbar.

 

The second-half proved to be a tougher affair but six minutes in Tsutsulupa played the ball over for Chenene who burst clear on the flank and beat Erick Mathoho but the chance was smothered by Khune who had come off his line.

 

The visitors would then draw level eight minutes later. Chenene’s pace continued to be problematic for the Chiefs’ defence as he raced onto a long pass from Nergadze before producing a clinical finish past Khune.

 

Clear-cut chances were not as constant as the first period as both sides tried to gain an advantage in the game but Chiefs went close from a set-piece with a header going wide while Swallows looked a lot more menacing.

 

Swallows came close in the seven minutes of stoppage time added on in the game with a free-kick curled just wide before Khune did brilliantly to snatch the ball from the toes of Felix Obada who had been played through.

 

There would be one more dramatic twist in the tale though as a corner in the dying seconds was nodded on by substitute Kingston Nkhatha and Majoro swept it home from close range to snatch the spoils.

 

Chiefs: Itumeleng Khune, Siboniso Gaxa, Erick Mathoho, Tefu Mashamaite, Keegan Ritchie, George Lebese, Willard Katsande, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Lehlohonolo Majoro, Bernard Parker.

 

Swallows: Greg Etafia, Gilbert Mapemba, Lizo Mjempu, Luvhengo Mungomeni, Ashraf Hendricks, Giorgi Nergadze, Lerato Chabangu, Lefa Tsutsulupa, Katlego Mashego, Bennett Chenene, Felix Obada.

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