SuperSport stumble to another defeat
SuperSport United’s troubles continued to pile up yesterday as they went down 1-0 to Golden Arrows at the Princess Magogo Stadium.
Kudakwashe Mahachi’s strike 10 minutes from time sealed a massive win for Clinton Larsen and his side, who broke a run of 11 league games without a victory.
As for Eric Tinkler’s men, they have now gone eight league games without a win, and they badly need firepower in attack, especially with Jeremy Brockie, not even in the squad, looking certain to join Mamelodi Sundowns.
Kingston Nkhatha was totally ineffective here, while Thabo Mnyamane missed a glut of chances.
Arrows had a good chance early on that fell to Zimbabwean striker Knox Mutizwa, but he couldn’t find the target, and neither could Mnyamane not long after at the other end, as he sliced well over.
A Danny Venter freekick for the home side then flew just wide, before a Mnyamane corner was headed off his own line by Mzwandile Buthelezi, making his top-flight debut in defence.
In the 26th minute Nkhatha set up Thuso Phala with a chance, but his effort was a long way wide.
Mahachi was already causing some problems for the SuperSport defence, the Arrows attacking midfielder getting Morgan Gould booked with one good run. He then almost grabbed a brilliant opportunistic goal, closing down keeper Reyaad Pieterse and blocking his clearance, but the ball luckily spun out of play.
SuperSport’s best chance of the first half came when Mnyamane sent Tshepo Mokoena free inside the area, but his shot was well saved by Nkosingiphile Gumede.
The home side had a good opportunity to take the lead just before half-time, as Venter found space on the edge of the box, but again could not find the target.
SuperSport created another opening five minutes after the break, Aubrey Modiba setting up Mnyamane, but he blasted over.
Mnyamane wasted an even better chance in the 63rd minute, when a fine cross from Phala found him free in the box, but with the goal gaping, he diverted his volley wide.
And it was Arrows who took the lead in the 80th minute, as Mahachi tucked the rebound away after Pieterse had saved Venter’s initial effort.
Matsatsantsa should have equalised with five minutes to go but again the culprit was Mnyamane, who blasted over the bar from close range.
In yesterday’s other Absa Premiership games, Baroka FC scored a fine 2-0 win at home to AmaZulu while Bidvest Wits remained bottom of the table as they could only draw 1-1 at Chippa United.