SuperSport, Maritzburg play out entertaining draw

SuperSport United and Maritzburg United played out an entertaining 2-2 draw in their Absa Premiership clash at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville on Wednesday.

The result sees Matsatsantsa rise to third place on 28 points (10 behind leaders Kaizer Chiefs, but having played a game more), while the Team of Choice are eighth on 22 points.

SuperSport got off to a flyer and claimed the lead in just the third minute. Ghampani Lungu played in Kudakwashe Mahachi down the flank, with the forward cutting inside, beating a defender and then calmly slotting a shot beyond goalkeeper Richard Ofori for 1-0.

The hosts could have doubled their advantage on the quarter-hour mark, putting together a slick move before Teboho Mokoena crossed for Bradley Grobler, but the striker’s left-footed volley flashed over the target.

The chances continued to flow for Matsatsantsa, with Mahachi particularly influential, but the elusive second goal to truly take control of the game did not arrive, leaving the hosts somewhat frustrated at being only 1-0 up at the break.

Maritzburg capitalised on their hosts' profligacy 11 minutes into the second half, with Judas Moseamedi taking advantage of some space left at the back before sending an effort beyond the reach of Ronwen Williams to make it 1-1.

SuperSport reacted by going on the attack and introducing burly striker Thamsanqa Gabuza off the bench to replace Sipho Mbule.

Midway through the second half they nearly reclaimed the lead, with Grobler seeing a header hit the crossbar before his follow-up effort was well saved by Ofori.

The Tshwane side went ahead for the second time when substitute Evans Rusike cracked home a half-volley from Teboho Mokoena’s assist in the 75th minute, but the Team of Choice fought back to make it 2-2 via a penalty from another sub in the shape of Thabiso Kutumela just three minutes later.

The game devolved to an end-to-end affair in the final minutes, with both teams throwing players forward with abandon to create chances, but neither was able to find a late winner and they settled for a share of the spoils.

The teams will return to Premiership action this coming weekend, with Maritzburg away to Chippa on Saturday and SuperSport visiting AmaZulu on Sunday.

SuperSport United (1) 2 (Mahachi 3’, Rusike 75’)

Maritzburg United (0) 2 (Moseamedi 56’, Kutumela pen 78’)

SuperSport: Williams, Nhlapo, Kekana, Daniels, Bhasera, Lungu (Rusike 73’), Mokoena, Furman, Mbule (Gabuza 65’), Mahachi, Grobler

Maritzburg: Ofori, Allie, Mngonyama, De Reuck, Kunene, Lea’alafa (Shandu 39’), Claasen, Timm, Buchanan, Hlongwane (Brockie 58’), Moseamedi (Kutumela 64’)