Stuart Baxter registered his first win as the SuperSport United mentor at the third time of asking after Matsatsantsa trumped Tshwane rivals University of Pretoria 2-0 in an Absa Premiership clash at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville on Sunday.

The win, SuperSport's seventh consecutive league victory over their neighbours, takes them into the top eight. Tuks remain 15th, four points behind Jomo Cosmos.

Sibusiso Khumalo got SuperSport off to the perfect start, the left-back's rasping effort from range whistling past Tristyn Coetsee in the Tuks goal on 14 minutes. Coetsee stood in for Washington Arubi, who missed a game for the first time this season.

Matsatsantsa should have doubled their lead a minute later, but Dove Wome failed to slide the ball past Coetsee who made a great save to deny the Togo international.

Tuks looked to have finally broken their goal drought against their Tshwane rivals when Getaneh Kebede had the ball in the back of the net on 25 minutes, but the assistant's flag was raised for offside.

Referee Victor Gomes ordered the teams off the field for seven minutes, early in the second stanza, after a flash of lightning struck in the vicinity.

The lightning disappeared, the rain remained, but still Tuks couldn't find the goal they craved as Ronwen Williams pulled off a top-class save to deny Kebede from point-blank range in the 53rd minute. The Ethiopian beat the offside and looked sure to score, but Williams was up to the task, saving with his chest.

If Tuks were to score, Kebede would be their man, but try as he might he couldn't beat the Bafana Bafana stopper. Williams pullled off another fine save to tip the striker's shot over the crossbar in the 75th minute.

Thuso Phala provided the knockout punch 10 minutes later when the SuperSport winger burst into the box before cutting inside and hitting his left-footed shot into the back of the net.

SuperSport United (1) 2 (Khumalo 14' Phala 85')
University of Pretoria (0) 0

United: Williams; Boxall, Booysen, Daniels, Khumalo - Morton, Furman, Mokeke (Mpeta 77') - Phala (Rambuwane 90'), Wome, Nkhatha (Grobler 86')

Tuks: Coetsee; Ngubane, Mthethwa, Mwedihanga, Sibande, - Ketjijere (Maruping 46'), Nyathi (Zwane 89'), Chikohwa (Mosadi 64'), Mnyamane - Kebede, Bacela