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Igesund’s SuperSport get much-needed win

SuperSport United Gordon Igesund coach at training with players.
SuperSport United Gordon Igesund coach at training with players.

SuperSport United returned to Polokwane – a town where their wheels came off some time last month – looking for redemption as they began their Telkom Knockout title defence.

They found the going tough‚ especially after striker Bradley Grobler was sent off for a stomp on defender Mfundo Phungwayo on the half-hour mark‚ but managed to edge out Polokwane City 2-1 in a frantic showdown at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium to progress to the last eight of the competition.

Matsatsantsa had been feeling the pressure coming into this encounter‚ having suffered three successive defeats – a poor run that initially started with 4-1 thumping by Kaizer Chiefs at the refurbished Peter Mokaba Stadium just next door on September 12.

It was clear from their body language‚ and that of their coach Gordon Igesund‚ that this was a must-win to get restore the winning feeling again.

Thuso Phala‚ who seemed to have been stripped of the captaincy as Dean Furman deputised‚ broke the deadlock as early as the fifth minute. But his goal was not without controversy. The winger kicked the ball out of goalkeeper George Chigova’s hands to roll into the back of the net‚ but referee Victor Hlungwani allowed for it to stand when he should have blown for a foul.

 

It didn’t take long for City to hit back as they had already looked lively with an attempt from Linda Shimba to force a save out of goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.

Puleng Tlolane bagged the equaliser in the 12th minute‚ proving a nuisance for the SuperSport defence having connected beautifully with leftback Punch Masenamela’s low cross.

Both Chigova and Williams had to earn their keep‚ producing countless saves‚ even though one of them ended up on the losing side.

It was in the 25th minute that the City defence was breached when Phala turned into the provider this time‚ setting up Dove Wome to spectacularly finish and hand SuperSport the lead. Truth be told‚ the lead was probably undeserved as the visitors were hardly in this match and are clearly still struggling for form. But they will take the win‚ and – with the international break approaching – Igesund will attempt to eliminate the errors.

City failed to make the most of their chances‚ including a penalty miss by Tlolane in the 65th minute after defender Clayton Daniels had handled the ball in the box.

SuperSport spent the better part of the second half putting out fires as the home side launched one attack after another. Igesund also got one of his players – Michael Morton – needlessly yellow-carded after he appeared to instruct him to delay taking a throw-in during the dying minutes of the match. A clear sign of the mounting pressure on the former Bafana Bafana coach.

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