Kegan Johannes of Supersport United and Thato Mokeke battle for the ball. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images)
SuperSport United kept their DStv Premiership title hopes alive following a hard-fought win over Cape Town City at the DHL Stadium after striker Bradley Grobler’s 82nd-minute header proved the difference between the two teams.
In a game full of half chances, the first clear chance fell to the locals after Darwin González switched the ball to Khanyisa Mayo, however, the forward fired his acrobatic shot over the bar.
SuperSport responded immediately with a chance of their own. A Grant Margeman free-kick was poorly received by the Citizens’ back line, but SuperSport were unable to find the target after a heroic block from full-back Thamsanqa Mkhize.
HOW IT HAPPENED | Cape Town City v SuperSport United
The best chance of the time fell to Cape Town, defender Taariq Fielies’s deflected header hitting the crossbar.
The rebound fell to SuperSport’s Siyabonga Nhlapo, who almost scored an own goal when his clearance attempt went off the post and into the hands of Mkhize. However, the defender could only find the side net from a tight angle to leave the full-backs goalless at half-time.
The second half was more of the same after both teams had half chances but lacked the lead.
With nine minutes to go, City were a light man while Mkhize was receiving treatment. Matsatsantsa seized the opportunity when Patrick Maswanganyi, going round and round in the penalty area, fired a wicked cross into the unmarked Grobler to snatch a late goal. The goal was Grobler’s seventh of the season.
The win was Matsatsantsa’s fifth win in their last six games and strengthened their title bid as they moved Gavin Hunt’s side to second in the standings ahead of high-flying Richard’s Bay and four points behind the leaders. Mamelodi Sundowns.
Meanwhile, the defeat of Cape Town leaves them in 10th place.
