Swallows advance to Nedbank Last 16 after come-from-behind win over TS Sporting

Johannesburg — A rejuvenated second half outing from Swallows FC ensured that they booked their spot in the last 16 of the Nedbank Cup as they came-from-behind to beat TS Sporting 2-1 in the last 32 at a slippery Dobsonville Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Birds ended the first half with the most ball possession, but they went into the break behind after Sibusiso Fakude gave his side the lead. But goals from Yagan Sasman and Ruzaigh Gamildien in the second ensured that Swallows got the win.

Swallows became the third side to qualify for the last 16 after Pretoria University and Mamelodi Sundowns. But the Birds will also take a morale booster from this game as they look to turn around their fortunes in the league.

Swallows are 13th on the log, one point ahead of the rock-bottom TS Galaxy who have a game in hand. But they'll believe that coach Dylan Kerr who's won the Nedbank Cup with a team he saved from the drop can do the same with them.

Kerr led Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila, who’ve been renamed to Marumo Gallants, to the Nedbank Cup last term. He also ensured that TTM preserved their status in the first season in the top-flight after they bought the status of Bidvest Wits.

Swallows came into this game on alert mode, especially considering that there had already been an upset in the competition on Friday afternoon. Second tier division outfit AmaTuks knocked out top-flight division outfit Chippa United by 2-0.

But it was Sporting who were eager to prove that they were in the last 32 of the competition on merit. Such that they nearly grabbed the lead in the 6th minute when Fakude forced Thela Ngobeni into a save after a thumping header.

However, that proved to be the wakeup call that the Birds needed in order to find