Polokwane pull away from relegation zone

by Brian Lee

Wednesday Apr 04, 2018. 21:45

Polokwane City beat a ten-man SuperSport United 1-0 in an Absa Premiership match at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday night to pull away from the relegation zone.

The win sees City up to 11th place on the league table with 30 points, six points clear of the relegation zone.

SuperSport, on the other hand, are in real danger of falling into the relegation scrap with the loss leaving them in 14th place on the table, only three points above 15th place Ajax Cape Town

Supersport started positively with the first effort on goal in the eighth minute when Morgan Gould met a corner-kick, but his header was well-saved by Polokwane keeper George Chigova.

Ten minutes later the away side was on the attack again with Thuso Phala trying his luck from long range, but his stinging effort sailed just wide of the target.

Polokawne slowly started to find their footing in the game with Jabu Maluleke dribbling himself into space on the edge of the box before unleashing a powerful shot that went narrowly over the target on the half hour mark.

Five minutes before the break Polokwane took the lead with Ramagalela turning home a Maluleke corner with an expert finish, 1-0.

The half ended with the home side in front by a single goal.

Five minutes into the second half SuperSport’s chances of a comeback were made even more difficult when Gould was shown a straight red card for a reckless tackle.

On the hour mark Polokwane almost doubled their lead when Maluleke let loose from 20-yards out, but his shot shaved the wrong side of the post.

SuperSport, despite being a man down, threw players forward in attack and almost stole a point two minutes from time when Jamie Webber worked his way into the box, but he was superbly denied by Chigove from close range.

In the end City managed to pick up a valuable three points two climb two places on the table.

Polokwane City (1) 1 (Ramagalela 41’)
SuperSport United (0) 0

Teams

Polokwane: Chigova, Ravhuhali, Manaka, Tshilo, Semenya, Seabi, Phiri, J Maluleke, Ramagalela, Musona (Tlolane 82’), Sulumba (Ndou 60’).

SuperSport: Williams, Kekana, Gould, Egwuekwe, Bhasera, Mokoena, Letsholonyane, Webber, Phala (Nhlapo 55’), Modiba (Nkhatha 66’), Rusike.