SuperSport United face what could be the most important 45 minutes of their entire season when they complete their previously abandoned clash against Golden Arrows at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Thursday, 29 May. Kick-off is scheduled for 12pm.
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With the score locked at 1-1 from the first half back in February, when the match was called off due to load shedding, only the second half remains to be played. But those 45 minutes carry massive consequences for Matsatsantsa, who are clinging to their Betway Premiership status.
Currently sitting in 15th place, SuperSport are in the dreaded promotion/relegation playoff position. However, a draw or a win against Arrows will lift them to 14th, one place above the danger zone and, crucially, ahead of Cape Town City, who would then be dragged into the fight for survival.
When the teams met earlier in the season, they shared the spoils in a goalless draw in October. Historically, SuperSport have the edge, winning 21 of the 47 league encounters to Arrows' 16, with 10 draws in between.
But history won’t count for much now. For SuperSport United, the equation is brutally simple: 45 minutes to decide their top-flight status. One mistake could mean disaster. One goal could mean survival. And there will be no second chances.
Meanwhile Cape Town City boss John Comitis is not happy that the SuperSport vs Arrows match will be completed, as a draw for United should result in the Western Cape club having to survive through the playoffs. Comotis spoke to Soccer Laduma on the matter.
"Cape Town City will be interdicting the game. We don't want to be more disruptive than the situation is already. I'm not here to create problems for the chairman but we do feel we have a case and we are investigating the situation," Comitis told the Siya crew.
"There are rules within FIFA that protect us even though the game may happen that we still have an opportunity to be heard. So, that is the route we are taking."
Comitis believes SuperSport should have lost the game when it was originally postponed due to a problem with the Gauteng club's electricity.
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