Marumo Gallants have suffered direct relegation from the DStv Premiership following a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Swallows FC in a final-round match played at the Dobsonville Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Lindokuhle Mtshali scored both goals, with the result sending the 2022/23 CAF Confederations Cup semi-finalist to 16th (last) place and a drop to the second-tier GladAfrica Championship, while the Birds ended in eighth spot and will compete in next season’s MTN8.
Swallows had the first shot in anger, with Lindokuhle Mtshali firing over from long range in the 10th minute, as the hosts looked for an early goal.
Gallants’ Celimpilo Ngema scored in the 16th minute only for it to be ruled out due to offside.
The first half looked set to end goalless, but the hosts broke the deadlock in injury time before the interval, with Mtshali capitalising on some space behind the defence before sending an effort past Marumo goalkeeper Washington Arubi for 1-0.
Yet the Birds were able to capitalize on Gallants desperately throwing men forward, with Mtshali scoring a second in the 81st minute, turning home from Tlakusani Mthethwa’s assist to kill off the game – and their opponents’ top-flight survival hopes.
Source: PSL
