SuperSport United are the new leaders of the Absa Premiership after defeating Platinum Stars 2-0 at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Second half goals from Atusaye Nyondo and Kermit Erasmus saw Matsatsantsa surge to a deserved victory and propelled them to the top of the standings – they are now a point clear of Kaizer Chiefs and Ajax Cape Town in second and third place respectively.
SuperSport were the first to threaten in the match, with striker Atusaye Nyondo getting on the end of a good cross from Bryce Moon in the 13th minute, but his headed effort was well saved by Jackson Mabokgwane.
Eight minutes later Stars created their first scoring opportunity, with a long throw-in from Vuyo Mere causing all kinds of problems in the United defence before falling invitingly for Lindokuhle Mbatha, but the midfielder blasted his shot over the crossbar.
On 27 minutes Mere was the architect of another Dikwena chance, floating a good ball into the SuperSport penalty area from a free kick that was glanced just wide of the target by striker Nathan Paulse.
Stars caught the hosts napping in the first minute of the second half, with a simple long ball putting Robert Ng’ambi one on one with Ronwen Williams. However, the young goalkeeper bailed out his defence by parrying away Ng’ambi’s attempted lob.
That close shave seemed to wake SuperSport up and they soon began to dictate the game. Just past the hour mark their ascendancy was confirmed, as Nyondo took advantage of some poor defending at a corner kick to net his fourth goal of the season and put Matsatsantsa ahead.
Just seven minutes later substitute Kermit Erasmus made it 2-0, scoring from a tight angle with a left footed shot that Mabokgwane should have kept out, but the goalkeeper only succeeded in parrying the ball into his own net.
Mabokgwane did rather better in the 76th minute when he had to make a sharp save to keep out a fearsome long range drive from Ashley Hartog, and again eight minutes later when substitute Glen Salmon threatened to ripple the back of the net from close range.
SuperSport are next in action on Wednesday when they travel to Moroka Swallows. Stars are away to Maritzburg United on the same day.
SuperSport United (0) 2 (Nyondo 61’, Erasmus 68’)
Platinum Stars 0
Teams:
SuperSport: Williams; Nkausu (Erasmus 51’), Gould, Booysen, Langerman; Moon, September, Selolwane, Nyanda (Maluleke 67’); Hartog, Nyondo (Salmon 79’)
Stars: Mabokgwane; Mere, Nkosi, Sambu, Mpangase; Malongoane (Phala 64’), Mkhabela, Thebakang, Mbatha; Ng’ambi (Ramolesa 74’), Paulse (Mandaza 64’) – BackpageTxt