FOR Gordon Igesund, it was like getting shot repeatedly with your own gun. But for Steve Komphela, it was precisely the killer instinct he had been trying to programme into his underrated Maritzburg United.
The 4-1 scoreline may have been disproportionately glossy but there was no denying that after beating Platinum Stars 3-1 in their previous match, Maritzburg United have learnt how to put teams away.
They put a stop to SuperSport's three-goal wins since Igesund took over and gave Matsatsantsa a bitter spoonful of their own medicine.
Zimbabwean striker Terrence Mandaza, who scored two of the four goals for the Team of Choice, epitomised this lethal approach by grabbing both his goals from just three attempts he made all night.
Komphela, whose side moved to third on the Premiership log, said things went according to plan.
"This match was a direct confrontation because we were in similar positions on the standings before the game, so we had to go for the kill," said Komphela.
"Our magic word was consistency. We've never quite had it in the past and, even in the [broader] South Africa game, teams get shocked when they get three wins in a row. In the PSL, two wins in a row is massive but three is unbelievable.
"If we can be more consistent, we can start taking ourselves seriously and believe in what we are doing.
"It had become clear in the previous three matches that SuperSport were a lethal, high-scoring team and we were aware of the challenge. They just kept coming at us in the first half, getting crosses in and getting in behind our defence."
SuperSport were culpable of falling back on the bad habits Igesund had spent his first two months - when they destroyed all before them - trying to exorcise.
Midfielders David Mathebula, Dove Wome and Michael Morton were dots of a strategy board that didn't quite connect.
"After we got the equaliser at 1-1 early in the second half we lost our shape completely," said Igesund.
"Our two centre-halves were too wide apart and the one goal we conceded was a flick-on by Mandaza, which looped in. That cannot happen at this level."
United will look to bounce back when they take on Bidvest Wits in the Telkom Knockout tomorrow.
Maritzburg show killer instinct
FOR Gordon Igesund, it was like getting shot repeatedly with your own gun. But for Steve Komphela, it was precisely the killer instinct he had been trying to programme into his underrated Maritzburg United.
The 4-1 scoreline may have been disproportionately glossy but there was no denying that after beating Platinum Stars 3-1 in their previous match, Maritzburg United have learnt how to put teams away.
They put a stop to SuperSport's three-goal wins since Igesund took over and gave Matsatsantsa a bitter spoonful of their own medicine.
Zimbabwean striker Terrence Mandaza, who scored two of the four goals for the Team of Choice, epitomised this lethal approach by grabbing both his goals from just three attempts he made all night.
Komphela, whose side moved to third on the Premiership log, said things went according to plan.
"This match was a direct confrontation because we were in similar positions on the standings before the game, so we had to go for the kill," said Komphela.
"Our magic word was consistency. We've never quite had it in the past and, even in the [broader] South Africa game, teams get shocked when they get three wins in a row. In the PSL, two wins in a row is massive but three is unbelievable.
"If we can be more consistent, we can start taking ourselves seriously and believe in what we are doing.
"It had become clear in the previous three matches that SuperSport were a lethal, high-scoring team and we were aware of the challenge. They just kept coming at us in the first half, getting crosses in and getting in behind our defence."
SuperSport were culpable of falling back on the bad habits Igesund had spent his first two months - when they destroyed all before them - trying to exorcise.
Midfielders David Mathebula, Dove Wome and Michael Morton were dots of a strategy board that didn't quite connect.
"After we got the equaliser at 1-1 early in the second half we lost our shape completely," said Igesund.
"Our two centre-halves were too wide apart and the one goal we conceded was a flick-on by Mandaza, which looped in. That cannot happen at this level."
United will look to bounce back when they take on Bidvest Wits in the Telkom Knockout tomorrow.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos