Marumo Gallants maintained their unbeaten record under Dan Malesela with a 1-0 win over Swallows at the Dobsonville Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Malesela’s side kept it tight at the back to blunt the Dube Birds’ attacking threat and their efforts paid off five minutes from time when Sede Dion struck to secure all three points.
The Limpopo outfit moved up to 12th place, seven points clear of the drop zone as Amaswaiswai remained in 14th position after slipping to their seventh defeat of the season.
Both teams were hoping to build on victories last time out in the league, with Swallows having beaten Baroka 1-0, while Gallants edged Sekhukhune United by the same scoreline.
But it was a cagey affair in Soweto, where chances were at a real premium as they cancelled each other out on the pitch for much of the game.
The hosts came closest to scoring in the first half when Grant Margeman let fly from distance on eight minutes, but Washington Arubi pushed his shot behind for a corner.
That was as good as it got in the opening 45 minutes as the two sets of players went into the halftime break still deadlocked at 0-0.
Swallows made three substitutions early in the second half in an attempt to change the situation, with Ruzaigh Gamildien, Thabo Mosadi and Tumelo Khutlang all brought on in quick succession.
However, it was the visitors that reaped the rewards from the bench as Dion snatched the winning goal just seven minutes after his introduction in the closing stages of the second half.
Swallows 0
Marumo (0) 1 (Dion 85′)
Swallows: February, Matlaba, Letlabika, Sasman, Langerman, Margeman, Nyatama (Wambi 81′), Matlou (Thibedi 78′), Muwowo (Gamildien 53′), Mahlatsi (Mosadi 53′), Musonda (Khutlang 54′).
Marumo Gallants: Arubi, Otladisa (Mnyamane 78′), Mabotja, Nhlapo, Kgoetyane, Ndlondlo, Ngema (Gumede 86′), Molangoane (Khiba 86′), Lamola (Dion 78′), Timm, Nonyane.
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