SuperSport stay top after beating Chiefs

SuperSport United deservedly beat Kaizer Chiefs 2-0 thanks to goals by Glen Salmon and Jabu Maluleke, although the the Absa Premiership match was highlighted by two incidents.

SuperSport saw a 'goal' disallowed in the first half, while the game also had to be stopped close to ten minutes due to light failure at the Loftus Stadium in Tshwane.

Amakhosi coach Vladimir Vermezovic started with the same line-up that he fielded in the 1-0 win over Santos at the weekend. SuperSport coach Gavin Hunt, meanwhile, made two changes. David Kannemeyer replaced the suspended Tsietsi Mahao at left-back, while Brent Carelse came in for Jabu Maluleke.

The game started at a good pace with both teams coming into the game with attacking intent. Especially Chiefs striker Knowledge Musona looked lively early on, troubling the SuperSport defence. But the Zimbabwean defender injured his right knee in the fifth minute and had to be replaced by Kaizer Motaung Jr.

Much of the early part of the match was a hard-fought battle in central midfield, where Chiefs’ Tinashe Nengomasha and Reneilwe Letsholonyane came up against SuperSport’s Brent Carelse and the young rising star Thandani Ntshumayelo. As a result, no team really created a goalscoring opportunity during the opening 20 minutes of play.

Shortly thereafter, chances arrived. First, SuperSport’s Glen Salmon scored what looked like a perfectly legitimate goal in the 29th minute when the striker put the ball into the Chiefs goal from a corner taken by Daine Klate. Referee Faiek Daniels, however, decided in all his wisdom to order a retake, while he spoke at length with Chiefs defender Thomas Sweswe, supposedly for pushing. But if indeed it was the Zimbabwean who had been pushing, Salmon’s goal should have been allowed.

Chiefs, on the other hand, got a great chance to score in the 33th minute when Motaung Jr flicked the ball with his heel to Nkosinathi Nhleko, who was running at full speed into the box. SuperSport goalkeeper Emille Baron, however, was quick off his line and bravely dived in front of Nhleko’s feet, brilliantly blocking the ball from going in goal.

Then, in the 54th minute the lights went off at the Loftus Stadium and the match had to be stopped. This wasn’t a good advertisement as the light-problem happened at a World Cup venue about six months before the 2010 World Cup.

After the lights had resumed their duty, it was again the Amakhosi that got a fine chance. Letsholonyane put through substitute Abia Nale, who went through one-on-one with Matsatsantsa goalkeeper Baron. The former Chiefs keeper, however, again came out of the goal speedily to block the ball from going in goal.

A goal finally arrived in the 67th minute when a great cross from the right by Jabu Maluleke landed via Salmon’s hip into the Chiefs goal from close range.

Three minutes later, Matsatsantsa’s Klate broke down in his own box. The Amakhosi was in possession of the ball and decided to continue to press for the equaliser instead of kicking the ball over the sideline to let the physiotherapist enter the field to assist the injured Klate. Then, SuperSport got the ball, moved forward towards the Chiefs box. Then, Anthony Laffor got the ball in the Amakhosi box, passed the ball to Maluleke, who scored, 2-0.

In the end, SuperSport played the better soccer on the day and therefore deserved to get the three points. As a result, Matsatsantsa are now seven points clear of second-placed Ajax Cape Town (36 versus 29 points). Chiefs are on 25 points, which means seventh position on the Absa Premiership log.

Kaizer Chiefs 0
SuperSport United (0) 2 (Salmon 67’, Maluleke 70’)

Teams:

Kaizer Chiefs (4-4-2): Bartman; Tau, Rooi, Sweswe, Jambo; Dladla (Yende 74’), Nengomasha, Letsholonyane, Tshabalala (Nale 61’); Nhleko, Musona (Motaung Jr 9’)

SuperSport United (4-4-2): Baron; September, Khumalo, Gould, Kannemeyer; Carelse, Ntshumayelo, Nkosi (Maluleke 34’), Klate; Salmon (Monteiro 80’), Laffor.