DStv Premiership
Result: Maritzburg United 1-2 SuperSport United
Date: 27 November 2020
Venue: Harry Gwala Stadium
Maritzburg United's poor start to the DStv Premiership season continued with a 2-1 defeat to SuperSport United at the Harry Gwala Stadium.
Thatayaone Ditlhokwe and Kudakwashe Mahachi were handed starts for SuperSport, while Dan Morgan, Kwanda Mngonyama and striker Thabiso Kutumela were recalled for the hosts.
After Bradley Grobler missed a big chance, Maritzburg got the opening goal on nine minutes in bizarre circumstances as Onismor Bhasera's poor clearance hit Ronwen Williams and sailed into the net for the own goal.
SuperSport weren't behind for too long though as Grobler latched onto Evan Rusike's pass before rounding to Sebastian Mwange to slot into the net on 14 minutes, making up for his earlier miss in the process.
Kaitano Tembo's troops took control thereafter and were unlucky not to have gone ahead on two separate occasions through Ghampani Lungu who had an effort cleared off the line by Morgan while another strike sailed inches wide of the upright.
The men from Tshwane could have found themselves ahead before the break but Grobler was unable to profit from eight yards after Mahachi saw his initial effort saved by Mwange.
It took a while but SuperSport got their reward just after the hour mark, as Mahachi deflected Lungu's cross into the path of Grobler who fired home just moments after Maritzburg had a goal wrongly disallowed for offside.
Maritzburg would have been fuming with Grobler's goal, as replays showed the striker's foot was in an offside position after the touch from Mahachi.
With Maritzburg pushing for the equaliser, Williams showed why he is Bafana Bafana's number one with a superb save on 76 minutes to keep out Judas Moseamedi's first-time volley from 12 yards.
Tembo's charges managed to see off a late surge for the Team of Choice in the end to get back to winning ways, handing Maritzburg their fifth straight loss.
Here's how they start:
Maritzburg: 1. Mwange, 4. Allie, 5. Morgan, 3. Sanoka, 23. De Reuck, 15. Ntshangase, 45. Mngonyama, 17. Claasen, 11. Tlolane, 7. Meza, 10. Kutumela.
Subs: 27. Barr, Ismail, Hachi, 21. Hlongwane, 18. Sandows, 26. Shandu, 14. Bongo-Mbourou, 8. Buchanan, 20. Moseamedi.
SuperSport: 30. Williams, 20. Kekana, 23. Fleurs, Ditlhokwe, 14. Bhasera, 28. Mokoena, 24. Mbule, 11. Mahachi, 17. Lungu, 19. Rusike, 7. Grobler.
Subs: 31. Pule, 3. Khumalo, 18. Nhlapo, 27. Philipps, 26. Donn, 12. Webber, 23. Waiswa, 9. Rayners, 13. Gabuza.
