United: No stress coach, we’ve got this

SuperSport United did not miss coach Stuart Baxter in Gabon yesterday as they mustered a thrilling 5-3 win over CF Mounana in their own backyard at the Stade De Franceville Stadium in a Caf Confederation Cup encounter.

United got their noses in front as early as the fifth minute through defender Gomolemo Kekana, who benefitted from schoolboy defending by the home side as they failed to clear their lines from a corner kick.

The home side, however, eventually found their rhythm as it took them about 17 minutes to find the equalizer through Abdou Atchabao.

That equalizer was short lived as Thabo Mnyamane needed a second bite at the cake after his initial shot was stopped by goalkeeper Yves Moto. Mnyamane soon doubled-up his tally, making it three for United with a brilliant solo effort six minutes before the end of the first half.

At the start of the second half, United brought in Jeremy Brockie and Morgan Gould. However, the biggest talking point soon after the restart was a penalty awarded in favour of the home side in the 48th minute after skipper Clayton Daniels was penalized for handling the ball – Reyaad Pieterse stood firm to deny Atchabao.

Fagrie Lakay beautifully set-up Brockie in the 64th minute to extend the lead to a three-goal cushion.

Mounana were handed another penalty in the 79th minute. It took substitute Sinayoko two attempts to get the better of Pieterse, who saved the initial attempt, but was down and out as Sinayoko pulled one back on the rebound. Autchanga then made it 4-3, but a minute later, Brockie restored the two-goal cushion with another tap-in.

Meanwhile in Swazliland, a 10man Platinum Stars had a match to forget in their Group B encounter at Mbabane Swallows.

Cavin Johnson’s side were thumped 4-2, with Swallows’ Wilson Ndzinisa leading the attack with all four goals. Stars’ goals came from of a Benson Sihlongo brace, both converted from the penalty spot.