SuperSport beat Polokwane to finish year on top of the league
STUART Baxter’s SuperSport United scored a well-taken 2-1 come-from-behind win over Polokwane City in their PSL clash at the Lucas Moripe Stadium, Pretoria, last night.
The teams were level at 1-all at half time. Polokwane made their attacking intentions clear from the outset when they took play into the SuperSport penalty area in the second minute, but failed to leave their mark.
They did, however, make it count four minutes later when the SuperSport defence surrendered possession in their penalty area and Rodney Ramagalela latched onto the stray ball and unleashed a curling shot from an acute angle past goalkeeper Reyaad Pieterse for the opening goal of the match.
SuperSport threatened a few minutes later after a penetrative raid down the right flank but Aubrey Modiba struck his parting shot into the side-netting.
SuperSport drew level with a freakish goal by Cole Alexander in the 37th minute, after he was given a free run down the right channel. He sent in a goalmouth cross from close to the corner flag. The ball floated high over goalkeeper George Chigova and dipped into the goals for the equaliser.
Two minutes later, Rise and Shine came close to regaining the lead. A Jabulani Maluleke goalmouth cross was headed against the crossbar by Sammy Seabi and it was a lucky let off for Matsatsantsa, who were guilty of ball watching.
In the final minute of firsthalf play, the unmarked Thabo Mnyamane had a gilt-edged chance to snatch the lead for Matsatsantsa, but ballooned his parting shot over the bar as the teams settled for a 1-all half-time scoreline.
SuperSport stepped up their work rate in the opening stages of the second half and managed to gain the initiative. However, they lost possession just when they managed to work their way into threatening positions.
In the 68th minute, Matsatsantsa gained the lead for the first time in the match when Jeremy Brockie scored from the penalty spot. Polokwane defender Thabang Klaas was adjudged to have fouled Reneilwe Letsholonyane just inside the penalty area.
Polokwane had moments later in the match to save the game, but SuperSport saw to it that their slender lead remained intact by the time the match came to an end.
CAPE Town City paid the ultimate penalty and lost ground near the top of the league table as they crashed to a 1-0 defeat to bottom-of-the-log Free State Stars in Bethlehem last night.
After a goalless first half, striker Thokozani Sekotlong scored his fifth goal of the season and the only goal of the match from the penalty spot in the 78th minute, after City defender Robyn Johannes had fouled Stars midfielder Danny Venter.
The win was sweet revenge for the Free State side, who were thrashed 4-1 by City in a Telkom Knockout Cup quarter-final fixture at the Athlone stadium in Cape Town on November 26. The valuable three points has given the home side a lifeline at the wrong end of the league table. – ANA