Supersport United winners of the 2017 MTN8 football match between Cape Town City and Supersport United at Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban on 14 October 2017 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
by
Bertin Basson
Saturday Oct 14, 2017. 22:46
SuperSport United beat Cape Town City 4-2 on penalties to clinch the 2017 MTN8 title in a pulsating clash at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday evening.
Goals from Sibusiso Masina and Thabo Mnyamane ,in regulation time, forced the match into an extra 30 minutes, but with nothing to separate the two teams after two hours of football the game would be decided from the spot.
Ronwen Williams emerging as the hero, denying both Lyle Lakay and Judas Moseamedi as Matsatsantsa claimed a first top eight crown in 13 years.
SuperSport dominated the opening exchanges of the clash, but it would be the Citizens to open the scoring in the 23rd minute.
Man-of-the-match Ebrahim Seedat and Masina linking up well down the left flank with the later guiding a pin-point shot into the far corner of the net from an acute angel to give City the lead, 1-0.
In search of an immediate reply, SuperSport pushed forward and went close soon after through Bradley Grobler. Shu-Aib Walters' blushes spared by Seedat who bailed his goalkeeper out with a fine block, after he had failed to gather the ball from a cross.
City 1-0 up at the break, following an electrifying half which went some distance in warming things up on a cold and windy night on South Africa's East Coast.
Benni McCarthy's troops conjured several chances to double their lead following the interval, with Lehlohonolo Majoro particularly guilty of missing a clear-cut chance on the hour mark.
Having failed to take their opportunities, the Citizens were duly punished as Mnyamane leveled matters in the 80th minute.
The second-half substitute running onto a perfect through ball by Bradley Grobler before firing a left-footed strike into the corner of the net.
But, his goal came at a cost as he was forced off with a groin injury soon after and with Eric TInkler having already made all three of his substitutes, SuperSport were forced to play the remainder of the game with 10-men.
As a result, Matsatsantsa changed their tactics and sat back for the 10 remaining minutes in regulation time and the ensuing half-hour of extra-time.
Moseamedi had a chance to win it for the Citizens in the 117th minute, but he failed to convert with time and space inside the penalty area. As a result, the game would be decided from the penalty spot.
SuperSport flawless - netting four from four - as Dove Wome hammered home to send the Matsatsantsa fans into delirium.
CapeTown City (1) 1 (Masina 23')
SuperSport United (0) 1 (Mnyamane 80')
SuperSport United won 4-2 on penalties.
Cape Town City: Walters; Seedat, Johannes, Fielies, Mkhize - Matsi (Moseamedi 90+1'), Modise (Putsche 66'), Nodada - Lakay, Masina, Majoro (Obinna 74')
SuperSport United: Williams; Kekana, Gould, Daniels, Modiba (Myeni 79') - Furman, Letsholonyane (Mnyamane 54'), Mokoena - Phala, Brockie (Wome 69'), Grobler
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