- 19 AUG 2020
SuperSport United have moved up to third place on the Absa Premiership log after a 2-0 win over Polokwane City at Bidvest Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
Matsatsantsa secured the victory thanks to an early goal from Ghampani Lungu and a late second from Bradley Grobler, and move up to 44 points, leapfrogging Orlando Pirates to sit behind the leading duo of Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns.
Rise and Shine, meanwhile, drop to 16th and last place. They have the same points (23) and goal difference (-14) as former bottom-of-the-log occupiers Black Leopards, but have scored a goal less (23 to 24) – such are the fine margins at the wrong end of the table.
SuperSport claimed the lead as early as the eighth minute, with Grobler picking up a loose ball in the middle of the park before playing a fine pass to put Lungu in on goal – the forward provided a composed left-footed finish to make it 1-0 to the hosts.
United scored just the one goal in the first half, though they should have added to their advantage on several occasions, with the excellent Guily Manziba creating several chances which were spurned by the likes of Lungu, Aubrey Modiba and Teboho Mokoena.
Polokwane rarely offered much threat in attack, though Vusimuzi Mngomezulu struck a low shot just wide of the mark in the 31st minute in their brightest moment of the first half.
Rise and Shine made a double change at the start of the second stanza when they introduced Charlton Mashumba and Kabelo Mahlasela off the bench, but it was Matsatsantsa who continued to boss the game.
Modiba should have scored into a gaping goal in the 51st minute after yet more fine work from DR Congo winger Manziba, while the latter also provided a fine cross on the hour mark which was powered on target by Grobler’s head, but City goalkeeper George Chigova made an excellent stop.
SuperSport were nearly made to pay for their missed chances in the 75th minute, with Salulani Phiri sending a low shot through a crowd of players, though Ronwen Williams made a fine save low to his right.
In the end Polokwane didn’t offer enough to fight their way back into the game, and their hopes were extinguished early in added time when Grobler made it 2-0 with a glancing header from Kuda Mahachi’s left-flank cross.
Polokwane will return to action on Saturday 22 August with a home match against Highlands Park at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, while SuperSport will next face Black Leopards away at the FNB Stadium on Tuesday 25 August.
SuperSport United (1) 2 (Lungu 8’, Grobler 90+1’)Polokwane City 0TEAMS:
SuperSport United: Williams, Nhlapho, Daniels, Fleurs, Ditlhokwe (Khumalo 89’), Lungu, Donn, Mokoena, Modiba (Mahachi 67’), Manziba (Webber 81’), Grobler
Polokwane City: Chigova, Mvelase, Chembezi, Nkili, Hlongwane, Nku (Musona 62’), Phiri, Chauke, Mngomezulu (Mahlasela 46’), Maluleke, Anas (Mashumba 46’)© Backpage TXT.
SOURCED FROM THE PSL WEBSITE.
