Supersport

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 sealing the deal for Matsatsantsa at the venue where they lifted the Nedbank Cup title but a few months a ago.

Cape Town City caught the eye with a devastating counter-attack last season, and Eric Tinkler’s stamp of approval was evident within six minutes of his first competitive game as Matsatsantsa head coach.

A move sparked from well within their own half by former Amakhosi man Reneilwe Letsholonyane, SuperSport were destructive in transition and after Bradley Grobler played in Brockie the goal-poacher made no mistake.

The New Zealand international skipping past Lorenzo Gordinho before firing into the back of the net, 0-1 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 number one seven minuts after the interval. Erick Mathoho sparing his blushes – clearing Bradley Grobler’s goal-bound effort off the line after Khune had coughed up possession.

The Glamour Boys would regain their strangle hold on the game soon after, but despite relentless pressure their efforts paid no fruition.

Bernad Parker and Hendrick Ekstein would find the woodwork and not the net in the 55th and 75th minute respectively with SuperSport happy to sit back and absorb wave-after-wave of attack.

In the end, Chiefs were unlucky not to at least take the game into extra-time with SuperSport doing just about enough to join Bidvest Wits and Cape Town City in the next round.

Kaizer Chiefs (0) 0
SuperSport United (1) 1 (Brockie 6′)

Kaizer Chiefs: Khune; Mphahlele (Jayiya 82′), Gordinho, Mathoho, Masilela – Maluleka, Katsande, Ekstein, Tshabalala – Parker (Malongoane 73′), Paez

SuperSport United: Williams; Kekana, Gould, Daniels (Mashamaite 80′), Modiba – Furman, Letsholonyane, Alexander (Phala 46′) – Wome (Nhlapo 68′), Grobler, Brockie