Stars Hold United

15 February 2012

ABSA Premiership

Teams: SuperSport United v FS Stars

Date: 15 February

Venue: Lucas Moripe Stadium

SuperSport United were unable to record a home win against Free State Stars after the men from Qwa Qwa held on bravely for a 1-1 draw.  

Steve Komphela would have been a happy man after his side took the lead in the 16th minute through Rudiger Gilbert, but newly signed Franklin Cale earned Matsatsantsa a point with a header five minutes from the break.

Ea Lla Koto’s goalkeeper Bruce Mtshali was first to be called into action after an in swinging corner by Cale tested him at his near post.

Thabo September then delivered a good ball for Mabhuti Khenyeza but the striker’s effort from just inside the box went wide of goal.

The deadlock was broken moments later when Stars’ Rudiger Gilbert received the ball inside the penalty area from Paulos Masehe and scored low past Ronwen Williams.

Cale then got a strike on target from a free kick after a foul by Ayanda Gcaba on Ashley Hartog and soon after keeper Mtshali was booked for time wasting.

Franklin Cale equalised for United before half time after he headed home Mabhuti Khenyeza’s cross from inside the penalty area.

An unfair challenge on Sameehg Doutie by Dove Wome resulted in a free kick taken by Cale, but Mtshali was up to the test.

The game lacked goalmouth action after the restart and Gavin Hunt was the first coach to make a change by bringing Kermit Erasmus on for goal scorer Cale in the 63rd minute.

Khenyeza was then fouled by Soriola Gege who was booked for dissent.

Hunt showed attacking intent with his next substitution when experienced striker Sibusiso Zuma was brought on for Ashley Hartog.

The third substitution, and Stars’ first, saw Daniel Agbagwu coming on for Boitumelo Sekgobela.

An out-swinging corner taken by Sameehg Doutie was met with a volley from substitute Zuma but Mtshali made the save.

United had now upped the tempo and a ball swung over by Doutie was cleared to safety by Paulos Masehe.

Komphela decided to take off Dove Wome and Coldrin Coetzee was brought on with about five minutes of regulation time left.

Tebogo Langerman then tested Mtshali with another shot but the keeper was once again up to the task.

Supersport were looking to snatch it at the death but Langerman’s ball in was cleared by Mtshali.

Matsatsantsa remain second on the table while Ea Lla Koto have dropped to eighth after tonight’s result.

SSU: Ronwen Williams, Grant Kekana, Morgan Gould, Franklin Cale (Kermit Erasmus 63'), Mabhuti Khenyeza, John Arwuah, Edwin Gyimah, Tebogo Langerman, Sameehg Doutie, Ashley Hartog (Sibusiso Zuma 70'), Glen Salmon.

FS Stars: Bruce Mtshali, Ayanda Gcaba, Phumlanu Mhamha, Soriola Gege, Rudiger Gilbert, Dove Wome (Coldrin Coetzee 85'), Katlego Mashego, Paulos Masehe, Mzikayise Mashaba, Edward Mnqele, Boitumelo Sekgobela (Daniel Agbagwu 77').

Goals: Rudiger Gilbert (FS Stars 16'), Franklin Cale (SuperSport 40')