SuperSport books place in MTN semis
SUPERSPORT United booked their place in the semifinals of the 2017 MTN8 following a 1-0 win over Kaizer Chiefs at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday evening.
An early goal from Jeremy Brockie sealed the deal for Matsatsantsa at the venue where they lifted the Nedbank Cup title a few months ago.
For Steve Komphela’s charges, it was an early blow to a season which they hope will extinguish the anguish of the previous campaign.
SuperSport were destructive in transition, and after Bradley Grobler played in Brockie, the goal-poacher made no mistake.
The New Zealand international skipped past Lorenzo Gordinho before firing into the back of the net, 1-0 to the visitors.
Chiefs went in search of an immediate response and dominated the remainder of the half.
First, Siphiwe Tshabalala’s deflected effort cannoned off the woodwork with 23 minutes on the clock before Ronwen Williams showcased his class to keep out Bernard Parker’s rocket from the edge of the area in the 35th minute.
All their pressure in attack would pay no dividends though, with Matsatsantsa holding a narrow 1-0 lead at the break.
SuperSport again threatened early in the half with Itumeleng Khune lucky to escape what was a nervous moment for the Bafana Bafana No 1 seven minutes after the interval.
Erick Mathoho spared his keeper’s blushes, clearing Bradley Grobler’s goal-bound effort off the line after Khune had coughed up possession.
The Glamour Boys would regain their stranglehold on the game soon after but despite relentless pressure, their efforts paid no dividends.
Bernard Parker and Hendrick Ekstein would find the woodwork and not the net in the 55th and 75th minutes respectively, with SuperSport happy to sit back and absorb wave after wave of attack. — supersport.