The Johannesburg side took a one goal advantage into the half tome break, but three second half goals from the People’s Team saw them emerging comfortable winners.

An innocuous start to the game saw the only shot on goal in the opening quarter of an hour coming from Swallows defender Brent Geyer, whose effort from outside the box curled just wide of the net.

The Cape side slowly started to get into their rhythm and had a couple of chances from set pieces, with Erwin Isaacs and Bevan Fransch both coming close with free kicks.

Isaacs’ effort was just off target, while Fransch’s well struck shot brought a good save out of Swallows keeper Aubrey Mathibe.

Isaacs had another chance in the 19 th minute when he was teed up just inside the box, but his shot sliced wide of goal.

Birds danger-man James Chamanga posed little threat as he was shackled by defender Wayne Arendse.

But while the Zambian’s influence was minimised by Santos’ man-marking policy, this opened up space for some of the other Swallows attacking players.

In the 33 rd minute Japhet Zwane capitalised on some poor marking in the Santos box when he was allowed to get on the end of cross from the right by Siphesihle Ngobese, which he squeezed in via a near post header past Wayne Roberts.

The Peoples’ Team always looked more likely to score from a dead ball situation and came close in the 36 th minute when Mathibe again did well to get down and block Fransch’s fiercly-struck free kick, while three minutes later a 30-yard effort from Isaacs flew inches over the bar.

Swallows were rather fortunate to escape conceding a penalty as the tackle by Goodman Mazibuko on Isaacs which lead to Fransch’s kick appeared to happen just inside the box.

It only took three second half minutes for the visitors to level the score-line when Mogogi Gabanamong scored for the third time in two games against Swallows.

The Botswana international was on hand to stroke the ball into the back of the net after Eleazar Rodgers had headed Isaacs’ free kick against the bar.

The Birds should have restored their lead almost immediately after the goal, but after being released by Lefa Tsutsulupa, Chamanga’s close range shot was brilliantly saved by the legs of Roberts.

In the 58th minute Santos substitute Romano Scott put the Cape Town team in front when he scored with his first touch of the game, sliding in to turn home Rodgers’ pin-point cross.

Despite his midweek endevours for the national under-23 side against Nigeria, Rodgers had an outstanding game, working his socks off and beating highly-rated Swallows defender Bevan Fransman in most aerial duals.

The Peoples’ Team extended their lead in the 81 st minute when Thom-Rick October burst down the right flank and whipped in a teasing cross which was headed past Mathibe and into the back of the net by Isaacs.

Two minutes later Alfred Phiri was unlucky not to pull one back for The Birds when his shot struck the upright and rebounded straight into the arms of a grateful Roberts.

In the end though Santos were deserved winners as their stunning vein of form continued, allowing them to march on through to the quarter-finals.

TEAMS:

Swallows: Mathibe, Fransman, Mazibuko, Geyer, Kobola, Ngobese (Gwekwerere 65’), Tsutsulupa, Haskins (Oerson 65’), Phiri, Zwane (Ndlovu 75’), Chamanga,

Santos: Roberts, October, Bax (Chimodzi 61’), Makonese, Arendse, Fransch, Gabonamong, Otieno, Oakes (Scott 53’), Rodgers (Mathopa 89’), Isaacs

* Isaacs was awarded the man-of-the-match award and presented with a R5000 cheque from Nedbank *

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

We would love to hear from other Engen Santos fans - whether it be on the current form of the
PSL side, or your own personal stories while supporting the team over the years...

Please e-mail Rodney Reiners: rodney.r@santosfc.co.za

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -