Ghanaian Gozar ends Swallows' nine-match winless run
Ghanaian Daniel Gozar scored as Swallows ended a nine-match winless run in the South African Premiership by edging Black Leopards 1-0 in Soweto Sunday.
The huge forward netted for the first time since joining the Soweto club last September to give the Beautiful Birds maximum points for the first time since mid January.
When Swallows were awarded a penalty just past the hour there was a dilemma as regular taker and leading scorer Ruzaigh Gamildien missed the match.
Gozar stepped forward, insisted he take the spot-kick, and calmly stroked a medium-height kick over Guinea-Bissau goalkeeper Jonas Mendes into the corner of the net.
Victory after eight draws and a loss for the club promoted this season lifted them two places to fourth, seven points behind leaders and defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns.
Sundowns have matches in hand on all their title rivals because of CAF Champions League commitments and it is difficult to imagine the Pretoria outfit not winning a fourth straight title.
But the race for second place and 2022 Champions League qualification is wide open with only five points separating second-place AmaZulu from sixth-place SuperSport United.
Swallows are four points behind AmaZulu with nine matches to play and if they can change a trend of drawing -- 12 times in 21 matches -- into winning then finishing runners-up is a realistic target.
"It was great to win again after so many draws, with leads surrendered too easily on some occasions," said Swallows coach Brandon Truter.
"Some football followers believe it is easy playing a team at the bottom of the table, like Leopards, but nothing could be further from the truth.
"Our opponents were just as desperate as us for three points and took us to the wire. Winning this match gives me as much joy as if we had beaten one of the top clubs."
Defeat left Leopards from remote northeastern town Thohoyandou last on 13 points, four less than Chippa United, who host Sundowns Monday having made a second change of coach this season.
Elsewhere, Arrows wasted a chance to go above fellow Durban club AmaZulu on goal difference after only drawing 1-1 at home against 10th-place Bloemfontein Celtic.
Zimbabwean Knox Mutizwa equalised for Arrows on 72 minutes with his sixth goal of the league campaign after Mzwanele Mahashe had nodded Celtic in front before half-time.
