Ajax hardly test keeper at Orlando Stadium

JOHANNESBURG: Sifiso Myeni scored a screamer of a goal – his first for SuperSport United since arriving on loan from PSL champions Wits on transfer deadline day last month – yesterday to give Matsatsantsa all three points against Platinum Stars.

What was turning out to be a dreadful game of football until Myeni’s moment of brilliance in the 85th minute added to Dikwena’s woes. The attacker received a routine headed pass from Sipho Mbule, who had also come off the bench as coach Eric Tinkler went in search of a win, and did the rest, striking the ball from outside the box to beat goalkeeper Mbongeni Mzimela.

It seemed to open the flood gates slightly as Jeremy Brockie was yet again on the score sheet in referee’s optional time to make it 2-0.

Stars came into the encounter having made changes to their technical team after sacking Peter Butler just two matches into the new campaign. Roger de Sa took over on Friday and was immediately in the dugout to try and inspire his struggling team.

The defeat is their third in a row in as many games and leaves them bottom of the standings. But De Sa would not have expected to beat a SuperSport side full of confidence having reached the MTN8 final over the weekend. It did, however, look like Dikwena would hang on for a draw until Myeni struck five minutes from the fulltime whistle. And then Brockie, the scorer of the two goals against Maritzburg United in the Cup semifinal on Saturday, added to the tally.

The win pushed SuperSport up to fifth place after three matches. It was their second win of the season after they beat Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 before the international break, recovering from their opening league defeat against crosstown rivals Mamelodi Sundowns.

Dikwena are likely to have a tough season, although they hope De Sa, who has been unemployed since quitting his job at Maritzburg United in April, will turn things around quickly before they are dragged into a relegation battle.

For SuperSport, this was good preparation ahead of their Caf Confederation Cup quarter-final first leg clash at home against Zanaco of Zambia on Friday night.

Tinkler rested a few players, but showed the that his team have enough depth to go into the weekend’s continental clash ready for a fight.

Meanwhile, it wasn’t pretty but Orlando Pirates won’t mind. The three points are all that matters for the Buccaneers at this stage as they beat Ajax Cape Town 1-0 at Orlando Stadium yesterday.

Bernard Morrison played like a man possessed and was rewarded with his first goal in the black colours of Pirates.

The Buccaneers held on against an Ajax side that hardly tested goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands.