Steve Komphela got his Moroka Swallows tenure up and running with a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Sekhukhune United at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday night.
The two teams went into the break deadlocked at 1-1 after Chibuike Ohizu cancelled out Lindokuhle Mtshali’s opener for the Dube Birds and the game appeared to be heading for a draw when Badra Sangare was deemed to have scored an own-goal after being barged over the line by Gabadinho Mhango in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
Sekhukhune looked to build on their 2-0 victory over Cape Town Spurs seven days ago, while Swallows were still searching for their first win under Komphela after opening the campaign with a 1-1 draw against Golden Arrows before being beaten 1-0 by Cape Town City.
The visitors made the better start and had an early pop at goal when Lantshene Phalane drew a save out of Sangare with a strike from distance in the third minute, while Ntsako Makhubela failed to keep his shot down from inside the box on 13 minutes.
Ohizu then went close for Babina Noko moments later as he lined up a shot from range that flew narrowly wide of the right post and the action quickly switched to the other end where the opening goal arrived.
Kagiso Malinga picked out Mtshali inside the area and the attacking midfielder tucked his shot into the bottom left corner of the net from close range.
The Soweto outfit threatened the double their lead soon afterwards, but Malinga was unable to beat Sangare after getting his head on the end of Tlakusani Mthethwa’s cross.
However, the hosts hit back on 26 minutes when Ohizu made contact with Jamie Webber’s cross to fire past Daniel Akpeyi from inside the box.
Elias Mokwana tried his luck from range moments later and saw the ball sail just over the bar, while Malinga flashed a shot inches wide of the left post at the opposite end six minutes before halftime.
The action was more subdued in the second half, with Mtshali skying a shot in the 63rd minute before Malinga headed over from a 68th-minute corner.
Mhango failed to test Sangare after connecting with an 83rd-minute corner, but there would be late drama when the Malawian striker bundled into the Ivorian goalkeeper in stoppage time and forced him to fall into the goal and the referee allowed the goal to stand much to the disbelief of the Sekhukhune players