DURBAN – A domestic double is still on the cards for SuperSport United after they edged Royal Eagles 2-1 at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Wednesday night to reach the last-16 of the Nedbank Cup.
The defending champions enjoyed a shaky return to domestic duty, helped in large part by their unfamiliarity with the First Division club who put out a mixed team themselves.
Like SuperSport, who are rotating their squad to deal with local and international assignments, Eagles also juggled their squad to keep key players fresh for their promotion bid.
But Matsantsantsa a Pitori’s pedigree carried them through as goals in each half by Thabo Mnyamane and Jeremy Brockie cancelled a first-half equaliser from Mzwandile Dlamini. It keeps them on course for a league and cup double.
There was no sign of Eagles’ league-leading top scorer Sedwyn George or former Zimbabwe international central defender Carlington Nyadombo.
Clearly coach Kostadin Papic decided to keep the 18-goal striker fresh for Saturday’s home league outing against FC Cape Town.
Instead, one-time SuperSport forward Phumelele Bhengu led the home attack. Having left the Pretoria side last season after failing to break into the first team, Bhengu was a lively performer, and helped fashion their 29th-minute equaliser.
He exchanged passes with Mzwandile Dlamini for the midfielder to drill a low shot past goalkeeper Reyaad Pieterse.
Earlier, Thabo Mnyamane highlighted why he was called up to the Bafana Bafana squad for next weekend’s international friendly against Guinea-Bissau in Durban.
His pace saw him comfortably beat defender Sabata Mosebo, and score the opener with a left-footed shot along the ground in the 11th minute.
Mnyamane and Pieterse were among eight changes that coach Stuart Baxter made to the team that started against Al-Ahly Shendi in the CAF Confederation Cup in Sudan four days ago. They lost to the North Africans 3-2 for their first loss in 10 games in all competitions.
The travellers might have enjoyed a healthier lead had they finished off several early inviting opportunities that fell to Kingston Nkhatha, Dean Furman and Jeremy Brockie in the first half.
Mandla Masango also had a free kick parried by goalkeeper Joslain Mayebi. The Cameroonian earned his keep as well with neat reflexes to deny Mnyamane a second goal in the second period.
Jeremy Brockie grabbed the winner for SuperSport on Wednesday. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu, BackpagePix
The longer the game went on, Eagles settled into the task and gave as good as they got. Bhengu had a drive parried by Pieterse, winger Cebo Masena fired straight at the goalie, and substitute winger Philani Shange smashed a shot wide.
However, as has become SuperSport’s habit this season, they produced when it mattered. Against the run of play, Brockie headed in Onismor Bhasera’s cross for the 75th-minute lead.
They suffered a scare seven minutes later when another ex-SuperSport striker, Katlego Mphela, rammed a trademark free kick into the corner, but his celebrations were cut short after referee Kulasande Qongqo pointed out that he had awarded an indirect free kick.