Masango brace hands SuperSport United victory

Supersport United's Mandla Masango is tracked by two Maritzburg United defenders as he makes his way towards goal on Wednesday night. Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

Supersport United's Mandla Masango is tracked by two Maritzburg United defenders as he makes his way towards goal on Wednesday night. Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

Published Feb 22, 2017

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SuperSport United - 4 (Mandla 52, 53 Nkhatha 58; Brockie 65)

Maritzburg United - 1 (Lentjies 14)

PRETORIA – Supersport United moved two places up the PSL table, as Mandla Masango registered his first two goals for Matsatsantsa a Pitori in their Absa Premiership race.

Matsatsantsa are now third on the PSL standings with 32 points after 17 league matches.

Masango, who joined the Tshwane side on a loan deal from his Danish side Randers FC during midseason transfer window, proved what an impact player he can be for Stuart Baxter’s side as they challenge for honours this season.

Their ambition to win the league title is not going to go unchallenged though, as other title contenders such as Mamelodi Sundowns, Cape Town City and Bidvest Wits, have made their intentions known that they too that want to be league champions.

The beauty about Baxter’s side is that they know how to score goals, and that will go a long way for them should there be any potential slipups along the way, resulting the league title being decided on a better goal difference.

In the first period, Reneilwe Letsholonyane struggled to produce his trademark surging passes. Maritzburg anticipated every attacking play he tried to create with his educated right foot. And each time his passes reached their intended man, mostly on the wings, the Team of Choice were quick enough to drop back and clear off any potential danger that came their way.

Masango struggled on the right-wing as well. He had about three players tracking his every move; each time he was on the ball. Masango struggled most of the half to shake them off, resulting Onismor Bhasera trekking up in an attempt to help out in attack.

Maritzburg on the other hand, looked better their opponents each time they moved forward. Their solid structure at the back allowed them the freedom to do just that up front. Kurt Lentjies scored the opener of the night, following a failed clearance from their opponents in the rearguard. The stocky centre-forward blasted the chance into the roof of the net, leaving Reyaad Pieterse no chance to make the required save.

SuperSport could have made it one-all before the break, but Kingston Nkhatha went disappointingly wide from a clear chance, following a superb cross from Bhasera on the near side.

But Nkhatha was soon to make up for that missed chance going in the second period. He created two beautiful chances which saw Mandla Masango register his first brace in Matsatsantsa colours. For the third Nkhatha just played a dummy and allowed Thabo Mnyamane’s cross to go pass between his legs, allowing Jeremy Brockie to finish the chance off.

Independent Media

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