SuperSport reignite title hopes
SuperSport United reignited their Absa Premiership hopes with a 2-0 win over Bidvest Wits at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Saturday evening.
Teboho Mokeona and Bradley Grobler were on target for Matsatsantsa as they move back up to fourth place on the log standings. The Clever Boys fall down to sixth, having now lost three of their last five league matches.
The hosts hit the front with 33 minutes on the clock. Onismor Bhasera blazed past fellow Zimbabwean MacClive Phiri on the left flank before firing in a low cross which picked out Mokoena for an easy finish; the midfielder left with the simple task of guiding the ball into an empty net.
Wits improved after the break and were only denied the leveller through a superb bit of goalkeeping from Ronwen Williams who thwarted Deon Hotto on two occasions in quick succession.
The first, a last gasp save after the Namibian had burst into a pocket of space in behind the SuperSport defence and the second a brilliant diving save to keep the winger's curling free-kick from bulging the back of the net.
The Clever Boys were dealt a huge blow with six minutes of regulation time remaining as Thulani Hlatshwayo was forced to leave the field with a head injury, and having already made their three substitutes, the visitors were duly reduced to 10-men.
Things went from bad to worse for Wits in the 89th minute as Sifiso Hlanti brought down Guily Manziba inside the area. Grobler duly stepped up to the spot to seal the win and all three points for the hosts.
SuperSport United (1) 2 (Mokoena 33' Grobler 89')
Bidvest Wits (0) 0
SuperSport United: Williams; Bhasera, Kekana (Nhlapo 78'), Ditlhokwe, Daniels, Furman, Mokoena, Mbule (Gabuza 74'), Modiba, Manziba, Grobler.
Bidvest Wits: Petersen; Hlanti, Gordinho, Mkhwanazi, Hlatshwayo, Phiri (Dzvukamanja 46'), Nange, Monare, Hotto (Macuphu 76'), Domingo (Sekgota 46'), Pelembe.