SuperSport book MTN8 final berth

by Graeme Jackson

Saturday Sep 09, 2017. 22:21

A brace from Jeremy Brockie saw SuperSport United defeat Maritzburg United 2-0 at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Saturday night to advance into the MTN8 final.

Matsatsantsa won the semifinal tie 3-1 on aggregate and will go on to face either Bidvest Wits or Cape Town City, with those teams set for their second-leg clash in Johannesburg on Sunday afternoon.

SuperSport gave early warning of their attacking intention when Aubrey Modiba provided a cross from the left and Bradley Grobler sent a header just wide of Bongani Mpandle’s right-hand post in the third minute.

On 14 minutes the visitors claimed the lead, with Dean Furman putting Modiba into space; he in turn chipped a cross from the left by-line and Jeremy Brockie got just enough on his header to beat the goalkeeper and put his side 1-0 up.

SuperSport made further half-chances to add to their advantage, while Maritzburg were exceptionally lucky not to be reduced to 10 men just past the half hour mark: Siphesihle Ndlovu was guilty of a studs-up challenge on Grant Kekana which should have brought a red card, but referee Victor Hlungwani opted for mercy and brandished only a yellow.

Matsatsantsa doubled their lead on the stroke of half time. A long diagonal to the far post from Kekana allowed Teboho Mokoena to head back across the face of goal and Brockie headed home his second of the night to make it 2-0 at the interval.

The Team of Choice made a double change at the start of the second half, sending on striker Andrea Fileccia and Cameroonian debutante Yazid Atouba. Fadlu Davids’ side dominated proceedings, but in truth Matsatsantsa had gone into game management mode and were happy to sit back.

Any slim hope Maritzburg had was extinguished in the 78th minute when Atouba picked up a second caution - for a laughably blatant dive in the penalty area - and was sent for an early shower.

Maritzburg United 0
SuperSport United (2) 2 (Brockie 14’ 44’) - SuperSport won 3-1 on aggregate

Maritzburg: Mpandle, Wiedlich (Kunene 80’), Xulu, Fransman, Ndlovu, Shandu (Atouba 46’), Makaringe, Maboe, Van Wyk (Fileccia 46’), Mekoa, Rusike

SuperSport: Williams, Kekana, Daniels, Gould, Phala, Furman, Mokoena, Letsholonyane (Nhlapo 71’), Modiba, Grobler (Myeni 67’), Brockie (Nkhatha 79’)