Johannesburg – A single goal from Wiseman Maluleke handed Jomo Cosmos a 1-0 win over Moroka Swallows in a PSL Promotional Play-off match at Dobsonville Stadium on Wednesday night which sees them into the top flight next season.
The win sees Cosmos top the play-off league table with seven points, the same as Black Leopards, but with a superior goal difference while Swallows finished bottom on three points.
The first opportunity on goal came about because of a mistake by the Swallows goalkeeper which saw a poor clearance in the second minute fall to Nkanyiso Madonsela, but the Cosmos man saw his attempt from distance saved by a scrambling Obren Cuckovic.
Ten minutes later Cosmos suffered a bit of a set-back when Thato Sithole had to leave the field with a shoulder injury and was replaced by Maluleke.
In the 16th minute Swallows had their first attempt on goal when Rudi Isaacs met a right wing cross, but saw his header sail inches wide of the post.
Just before the half hour mark Cosmos came close to opening the scoring when Charlton Mashumba met a left wing cross with an acrobatic volley, but saw his 14-yard attempt shave the wrong side of the upright.
In the 33rd minute Maluleke tried his luck from the edge of the box, but saw his low stinging shot go narrowly wide.
Three minutes before the break Swallows suffered a big blow when Lerato Changabu was harshly shown a straight red card for what the referee deemed a studs-up challenge on Ndabenhle Mthembu.
The half ended 0-0.
The start of the second half saw Cosmos continued to dictate matters and they came close to breaking the deadlock four minutes after the restart when a 24-yard free-kick from Mashumba was superbly save by the keeper.
Swallows, despite seeing very little of the ball, did have an attempt on goal on the hour mark when Lantshene Phalane fired a 20-yard free-kick inches over the crossbar.
Cosmos, nonetheless, persisted and were rewarded with a goal in the 76th minute when Pentjie Zulu played Maluleke into space 14-yards out and he finished with aplomb, 1-0.
Cosmos shut-up shop at the back thereafter and held on for the slender win which sees them into the Absa Premiership next season. - ANA