ABSA Premiership

Result: Swallows 3-2 MP Black Aces

Date: 30 August 2013

Venue: Dobsonville Stadium

Edward Manqele didn’t have to wait long to prove his potential as the forward struck a hat-trick to inspire Moroka Swallows to a 3-2 win over Mpumalanga Black Aces on Friday night.

The striker, who is currently on loan at the Dube Birds after struggling to secure regular game time at Mamelodi Sundowns, looked to be back to his best with a well-taken treble.

Aces gave a good account of themselves and were given some hope through a goal from Thabo Qalinge in the 28th minute which brought the score to 2-1, but Manqele restored the two-goal cushion after the break. Aces went on to bag a second goal deep into stoppage time but it proved nothing more than a consolation as the full-time whistle was blown moments later.

AmaZayoni started the game the brighter of the two and thought that they had opened the scoring 14 minutes only for Onyekachi Okonkwo to be denied by the offside flag in a controversial decision.

Swallows responded just three minutes later when Manqele was on hand to gobble up a rebound after Siyabonga Nomvethe had seen his shot stopped by Bafana Nhlapo.

Manqele was at it again in the 22nd minute – this time the forward buried a terrific volley after being found by the lively Nomvethe.

Aces restored some calm after the quick-fire double as Qalinge thumped his shot into the roof of the net from inside the area.

The visitors were playing with restored confidence after the goal but their failure to turn their good work into goals would be punished after the interval as Manqele buried Dikgang Mabalane’s ball to make it 3-1.

Swallows stood firm for the remaining minutes but Aces would eventually breach their defence in the fifth minute of stoppage time as Clifford Ngobeni beat Greg Etafia but it was too little too late as the Dube Birds flew off with the spoils.

Swallows: Greg Etafia, Luvhengo Mungomeni, Rudi Isaacs, Larry Cohen, Levy Mokgothu, Asavela Mbekile, Lefa Tsutsulupa, Dikgang Mabalane, Lerato Chabangu, Siyabonga Nomvethe, Edward Manqele.

Aces: Bafana Nhlapo, Omar Hendricks, Eduardo Ferreira, Method Mwanjali, Abel Mabaso, Thabo Qalinge, Sandile Zuke, Ofentse Nato, Themba Zwane, Onyekachi Okonkwo, Mabhuti Khenyeza.

Source: http://www.soccerladuma.com