FEW would have bet against Moroka Swallows losing to battling AmaZulu
But that was not to be as Usuthu humiliated Swallows with four unanswered goals at the Birds aviary in a lopsided Premiership match.
Swallows, on the back of back-to-back victories over Bidvest Wits and Mpumalanga Black Aces, must have fancied their chances but the hosts were beaten comprehensively by an AmaZulu fighting to save their season.
And why wouldn't they? In AmaZulu they faced a team whose spirit was down after three defeats in a row. But what happened left Swallows coach Gordon Igesund and the club' supporters wondering what could have gone so horribly wrong.
So what went wrong for the Dube Birds?
Well, conceding three goals before half-time certainly didn't help their course. And playing without trusty striker Siyabonga "Bhele" Nomvethe also affected them.
The Durbanites went a goal up as early as the third minute when Ramson Zhuwawo took advantage of the Swallows defence's failure to clear the ball and blasted a fierce shot past goalkeeper Aubrey Mathibe.
Eleven minutes later AmaZulu were two goals up. Ayanda Dlamini cut in from the left and laid the ball to Lehlohonolo Majoro who slotted past Mathibe.
Swallows' rearguard was in sixes and sevens and Usuthu, especially Dlamini, took full advantage.
In the 37th minute, Dlamini once again cut in from the left, leaving Vuyo Mere for dead but this time he finished what he had started and shot past Mathibe to give Usuthu a three-goal lead going into the break.
Igesund rang the changes at half-time, bringing on Auguston Leonard and Keagan Ritchie for Ashraf Hendricks and Morgan Shivambu but the AmaZulu defence stood firm.
Swallows did find the back of the net in the 61st minute when Ritchie's deflected shot beat Mbongeni Mzimela but referee Victor Gomes ruled it offside.
Bradley Ritson, with his aerial strength, posed the biggest threat to Usuthu and was unlucky not to have scored.
Dlamini completed his brace at the death when, with Swallows defence sleeping, scored AmaZulu's fourth.
Swallows' next game is a tricky away clash against Ajax Cape Town.
Birds impaled
FEW would have bet against Moroka Swallows losing to battling AmaZulu
But that was not to be as Usuthu humiliated Swallows with four unanswered goals at the Birds aviary in a lopsided Premiership match.
Swallows, on the back of back-to-back victories over Bidvest Wits and Mpumalanga Black Aces, must have fancied their chances but the hosts were beaten comprehensively by an AmaZulu fighting to save their season.
And why wouldn't they? In AmaZulu they faced a team whose spirit was down after three defeats in a row. But what happened left Swallows coach Gordon Igesund and the club' supporters wondering what could have gone so horribly wrong.
So what went wrong for the Dube Birds?
Well, conceding three goals before half-time certainly didn't help their course. And playing without trusty striker Siyabonga "Bhele" Nomvethe also affected them.
The Durbanites went a goal up as early as the third minute when Ramson Zhuwawo took advantage of the Swallows defence's failure to clear the ball and blasted a fierce shot past goalkeeper Aubrey Mathibe.
Eleven minutes later AmaZulu were two goals up. Ayanda Dlamini cut in from the left and laid the ball to Lehlohonolo Majoro who slotted past Mathibe.
Swallows' rearguard was in sixes and sevens and Usuthu, especially Dlamini, took full advantage.
In the 37th minute, Dlamini once again cut in from the left, leaving Vuyo Mere for dead but this time he finished what he had started and shot past Mathibe to give Usuthu a three-goal lead going into the break.
Igesund rang the changes at half-time, bringing on Auguston Leonard and Keagan Ritchie for Ashraf Hendricks and Morgan Shivambu but the AmaZulu defence stood firm.
Swallows did find the back of the net in the 61st minute when Ritchie's deflected shot beat Mbongeni Mzimela but referee Victor Gomes ruled it offside.
Bradley Ritson, with his aerial strength, posed the biggest threat to Usuthu and was unlucky not to have scored.
Dlamini completed his brace at the death when, with Swallows defence sleeping, scored AmaZulu's fourth.
Swallows' next game is a tricky away clash against Ajax Cape Town.
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