SuperSport hand City devastating title blow
SUPERSPORT United defeated Cape Town City 4-2 in an Absa Premier League match at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria last night.
The win took Matsatsantsa to fourth spot after denting the Citizens’ title hopes and the latter remain third – five points behind log leaders Bidvest Wits.
The match got off to a bright start as SuperSport winger Thuso Phala forced City goalkeeper Shu-Aib Walters into a decent save four minutes into the game.
However, the SuperSport defence was punished three minutes later when a poor clearance fell for Lehlohonolo Majoro, who scored to make it 1-0 to City.
It was end-to-end stuff as South Africa international Walters produced a good save to deny the home side following Phala’s set-piece in the 13th minute.
Matsatsantsa kept pushing and applying pressure on the Citizens defence and their pressure finally paid off on the half-hour mark.
Phala, who had a good first-half, played a good ball to Thabo Mnyamane and the South Africa international hit the back of the net to make it 1-1 for SuperSport.
The home side were now oozing with confidence and Mnyamane forced Walters into a decent save from close-range in the 34th minute.
However, Walters and his defence were able to contain Matsatsantsa in the remaining minutes of the first half and the score was 1-1 during the halftime break.
An action-packed second-half followed and the home side were able to take a well deserved lead four minutes after the restart.
Mnyamane played a great cross which Walters failed to collect and Clayton Daniels hit the back of the net from close-range to make it 2-1 to SuperSport.
But the Citizens were awarded a penalty in the 59th minute after Majoro was fouled by Daniels and the referee pointed to the spot-kick.
Lebogang Manyama, the City captain, then stepped up and made it 2-2 from the spot-kick – becoming league’s top goalscorer with 13 goals in the process.
SuperSport head coach Stuart Baxter responded by pulling out Mnyamane, who had a good night, for attacking midfielder Aubrey Modiba in the 72nd minute.
The left-footed winger then made an immediate impact two minutes later as he played a low cross to Jeremy Brockie, who scored to make it 3-2 to SuperSport.
The home side continued their dominance in the closing stages of the game and Phala scored in stoppage time to seal SuperSport's 4-2 win.
Meanwhile, Platinum Stars coach Cavin Johnson has spoken of “putting in shifts” and being “diligent” as he turns his attention from relegation struggles to the top-eight ahead of the away trip to Maritzburg United today. — SuperSport.com/TMG