Two goals from Maritzburg’s Diyo Sibisi, one in each half, looked like it would be enough for Ian Palmer’s men to take three points away from Volkswagen Dobsonville Stadium.

But the visitors were not helped by a red card given to Felix Obada in the 77th minute for violent conduct.

Nomvete pounced on his opportunity thanks to substitute Auguston Leonard’s supply, sending the Birds faithful home with a lot more to smile about than it seemed at one stage in the match.

Up until Nomvete’s goal the ‘Team of Choice’ looked like winning even though Lefa Tsutsulupa had pulled a goal back not long after Sibisi’s second.

Maritzburg got off to a flying start when goal poacher Sibisi slotted in a second minute goal from close range following good work by Obada.

Sibisi, ever alert inside the danger area, latched onto Obada’s through ball and while on the run, he kept his cool and calmly slotted past Greg Etafia, which left Birds coach Gordon Igesund scratching his head.

For all their hard work Maritzburg’s next best chance would only come from substitute Matle whose 36th minute drive whizzed over Etafia’s crossbar.

Then in the 40th minute Tsutsulupa got a head onto a Shere Lekgothoane cross from the left, but he sent his header wide of goal.

A minute later Mathebula found space and got a strike on goal only for Walters to save comfortably.

Just after the interval Igesund made a tactical switch, bringing on proven goal scorer Mpho Maleka for Oscar Machapa. But Palmer made a change as well, choosing to bring a fresh defender in on David Booysen for Byron Hendricks.

In the 54th minute Morton got a shot on goal for the visitors, but it did not trouble Etafia before Booysen was called into action to get his body in the way of a Mathebula attempt on goal.

Then Sibisi headed in his second for the night, taking full advantage of Thabang Matuka’s left wing cross.

But in the 70th minute Tsutsulupa pulled a goal back for the home side, finishing well from inside the danger area thanks to Nomvete’s supply.

Obada received his marching orders in the 77th and Nomvete slotted the leveller with just a minute to go.

Teams:

Swallows: Etafia – Mapemba, A Hendricks (Cisse 81’), Mungomeni, Lekgothoane – Sibaya, Nergadze (Leonard 61’) – Mathebula, Tsutsulupa, Machapa (Maleka 46’) – Nomvete

Maritzburg: Walters – Petersen, B Hendricks (Booysen 46’), Diouf, Matuka – Lentjies, Morton, Ncubeni (Matle 21’), Obada – Olomu – Sibisi (De Jongh 80’)