SuperSport edge Bucs, rejoin race

Clayton Daniels scored the winning goal but Ronwen Williams proved the hero as SuperSport United breathed new life into their Absa Premiership title challenge with a 1-0 victory over Orlando Pirates at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Wednesday.

Daniels headed home in the second period to give SuperSport a deserved victory that leaves them five points off pacesetters Bidvest Wits and clinging on to their championship hopes.

Pirates defender Happy Jele had a penalty saved by Williams as the Bafana Bafana gloveman made a series of superb stops to deny the visitors, who remain four points behind Wits with a third of the season played.

The Buccaneers have now gone six games without a win in all competitions, and suffered a first Absa Premiership defeat in 16 games since a loss to Bloemfontein Celtic in August.

Pirates coach Micho Sredo- jevic made three changes from the side that lost to African champions Esperance last time out, bringing in Abbubaker Mobara, Musa Nyatama and Xola Mlambo for Paseka Mako, Linda Mntambo and Asavela Mbekile.

SuperSport were without talismanic midfielder Teboho Mokoena as he served a suspension.

Pirates were unfortunate early on when Nyatama had the ball in the back of the net, but the match officials ruled he was offside.

SuperSport should have been ahead on 10 minutes when they had a five-on-three break, working the ball to Siyabonga Nhlapo in space, but his low shot was well saved by Wayne Sandilands.

The keeper did well again when SuperSport defender Daniels headed towards goal and the experienced shot-stopper beat the ball to safety.

Pirates were given a lifeline when Evans Rusike handled the ball just inside the box but the penalty was poorly taken. –