Defending Absa Premiership champions SuperSport United maintained their lead at the top of the table when they edged out Platinum Stars 2-0 in a disappointing clash played at Atteridgeville's Super Stadium on Saturday night.
Both goals came in the second half with man of the match Elias Pelembe scoring the first and making the second goal for Glen Salmon after a terrible mistake from Stars goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini three minutes from time.
It was a match that never got out of first gear. But United coach Gavin Hunt will be happy with three points and keep the pressure on the chasing pack.
Continues Below ↓
There was little to write home about in a dull, scrappy first 45 minutes in which neither side showed any urgency or initiative. The first half was marred by poor passing and disappointing finishing. It was also marred by a couple of reckless tackles committed by Stars.
The game was watched by Bafana Bafana coach Joel Santana and assistant coach Jairo Leal. Neither would have seen anything that excited them.
United midfielder Masibusane Zongo fired a free kick at Kapini on eight minutes but that was the only time the Stars Zimbabwean keeper had any work to do in an easily forgettable first half.
United striker Salmon was given poor service and apart from getting fouled he was rarely brought into the game by his misfiring midfielders during the opening 45 minutes.
Stars striker Bradley Grobler sent over a good right wing cross in the 12th minute but his partner Henrico Botes failed to take advantage and missed the cross.
But it was Stars midfielder Stanley Kgatla who missed the sitter of the opening 45 minutes. Kgatla pounced onto a flick-on by Grobler and with the goal at his mercy from close range he blasted his shot well over the crossbar when it looked easier to score than miss in the 27th minute.
Continues...
|
StumbleUpon
Reddit
Digg
Delicious
Newsvine
Facebook
muti
Twitter
