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Ayanda Dlamini struck a hat-trick as AmaZulu scored a stunning 4-0 away win over Moroka Swallows on Wednesday night.
AmaZulu showed signs of fighting their way out of the dumps, and in this well engineered victory, the Neil Tovey-coached side played with passion, confidently controlled the game and ran off deserving winners.
AmaZulu suffered a serious blow a few minutes before kick off when Tovey was forced to replace his reliable defender, Siphiwe Mkhonza, with Siboniso Gumede. Mkhonza was originally in the starting line-up, but after the team’s warm-up session the player was reported to be struggling to breath.
Swallows will have only themselves to blame, as they also created a number of scoring opportunities throughout the match but a lack of composure saw them suffer yet another defeat in their disappointing league campaign.
AmaZulu also created an avalanche of chances in the early stages of the game but unfortunately they never quite managed to keep their composure at the vital moments in front of the Swallows’ goal.
Ayanda Dlamini could have done better to put his side ahead after being set up by Dumisani Ngwenya in the 17th minute but the AmaZulu striker hesitated in front of Swallows’ danger area and allowed Thato Ferland to recover and clear the ball.
Moroka Swallows then started gaining their confidence. They had a chance to break the deadlock in the 24th minute but after a pass by Thomas Cichon, Shaun Haschick’s shot went inches wide.
AmaZulu claimed the lead when, after a defence splitting pass from the middle, Ayanda Dlamini outran Swallows’ Thato Ferland before beating Greg Etafia with a low shot to give his side the much needed early lead in the 26th minute.
Two minutes later Etafia was called to make a brilliant save from Sibusiso Hadebe’s attempt.
The home side tried to respond through the determined running of Collins Mbesuma and Shaun Haschick but they were denied by Mbongeni Mzimela in the AmaZulu goal if not kicking wide and over the bar.
Heading into the break, Tovey’s charges were worthy of their lead, although Swallows looked threatening when they managed to string some passes together in midfield.
Swallows started the second half an improved side and camped in the AmaZulu’s half but the only problem was how to get past the visitors’ defence, marshaled by the towering Peri Ariweriyai.
Mesmeric runs by Sibusiso Khumalo on the left flank caused AmaZulu’s defence considerable concern. At one stage he zoomed past Usuthu’s backline and dashed out with a vicious drive that brought the best out of their keeper Mzimela who fisted the ball away for a corner.
However, it was AmaZulu who increased their tally to two. Ayanda Dlamini found ample space just on the edge of Swallows’ danger area. The AmaZulu striker fired a rocket-like shot that left the Swallows keeper with the formality of picking up the ball at the back of his net in the 67th minute.
But the story was not finished. Lita Ngxabi scored AmaZulu’s third goal in the 78th minute after a pass from Warren Bishop.
Ayanda Dlamini put the final nail into the Swallows coffin in the 85th minute to complete his hat-trick and score his side’s fourth goal.
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