DStv Premiership
Result: Stellenbosch 1-1 SuperSport United
Date: 19 March 2021
Venue: Danie Craven Stadium
SuperSport United's chances of challenging for the DStv Premiership title are slipping away after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Stellenbosch on Friday evening.
Kaitano Tembo made three changes for SuperSport, as Guily Manziba, Keenan Phillips and Ghampani Lungu were all recalled while Stellies brought back Zitha Macheke and Alan Robertson.
The sides were cautious in the early stages and Sipho Mbule came close to breaking the deadlock for United in the 22nd minute with a deflected shot at the near post that was saved by goalkeeper Sage Stephens.
SuperSport were forced to make a change eight minutes before the break after Manziba had a dislocated shoulder injury and he was replaced by Evans Rusike.
Stellies had the best chance of the game on the stroke of half-time from a counter-attack after Junior Mendieta went through on goal on the right side of the box but his first-time strike sailed slightly over the bar.
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Iqraam Rayners had a wonderful chance to break the deadlock for the visitors five minutes from the break after cutting inside the box to have a clear sight of goal, with only Stephens to beat but he lost his footing and scuffed his shot into the hands of the Stellies shot-stopper.
Stanley Dimgba eventually broke the deadlock for Steve Barker's charges on the hour-mark with a close-range strike into a gaping net from a rebound inside the box.
With Matsatsantsa pressurising Barker's troops late in the half, Kudakwashe Mahachi snatched the equaliser for United in the last eight minutes with a strike on the line under pressure after a chip away from Stephens by Rusike.
Mendieta almost got the winner for the hosts in the last three minutes with a close-range header that was saved by shot-stopper Ronwen Williams as the sides settled for a share of the spoils.
Here's how they started:
Stellenbosch: 17. Stephens, 24. Macheke, 20. Robertson, 4. De Goede, 16. Johannes, 19. Sinkala, 27. Jabaar, 7. Van Rooyen, 10. Mendieta, 9. Du Preez, 13. Dimgba.
Subs: 35. Langeveldt, 32. Mbekile, 12. Scott, 4. Msengi, 3. Brenner, 23. Adams, 37. Johnson, 30. Avontuur, 49. Ntshuntshe.
SuperSport: 30. Williams, 27. Philipps, 25. Fleurs, 6. Ditlhokwe, 16. Bhasera, 22. Manziba, 12. Webber, 24. Mbule, 28. Mokoena, 9. Rayners, 17. Lungu.
Subs: 1. Chigova, 3. Khumalo, 18. Nhlapo, 15. Mohomi, 23. Waiswa, 11. Mahachi, 19. Rusike.
