Polokwane City battle back for a point against SuperSport

08 November, 2023

First Team

SuperSport United missed out on the chance to go top of the table after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Polokwane City at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday night.

Polokwane City battle back for a point against SuperSport

SuperSport United missed out on the chance to go top of the table after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Polokwane City at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday night.

Gavin Hunt's side had set their sights on a fourth consecutive win in the DStv Premiership and they bossed proceedings in Polokwane before finally taking the lead through substitute Etiosa Ighodaro 18 minutes from time.

But they were pegged back just nine minutes later as Tholo Matuludi equalised for Rise And Shine to earn them a share of the spoils and deny Matsatsantsa top spot in the league.

Polokwane were seeking their first win in three league matches following back-to-back draws against Sekhukhune United and Orlando Pirates, while SuperSport looked to capitalise on Golden Arrows' 1-0 defeat to Royal AM on Tuesday.

The visitors almost got off to the perfect start when Terrence Dzvukamanja lined up a shot from range that was expertly parried around the left post by Manuel Sapunga for a corner in the second minute.

Matsatsantsa kept applying the early pressure without much success before Rise And Shine were presented with a good chance from a free-kick in the 23rd minute that Oswin Appollis curled to the left of the goal.

Fresh from his brace against TS Galaxy last time out, Lyle Lakay looked to get his name on the scoresheet again, but he was unable to beat Sapunga from inside the box in the 28th minute.

INSPIRED SUBSTITUTION

Dzvukamanja then went close moments later with a strike from inside the 18-yard area on the left that flew narrowly past the far post and the final action of the first half saw Tendamudzimu Matodzi test Sapunga with a header from Bradley Grobler's cross in the fourth minute of added time.

The Tshwane giants continued to push for the opening goal in the second half as Matodzi forced Sapunga to tip his shot over the crossbar in the 49th minute after being set up by Dzvukamanja inside the box.

Ricardo Goss was finally called into action 10 minutes later, although Mokibelo Ramabu's strike from range flew straight at the goalkeeper, who made a comfortable save.

Grobler should perhaps have done better at the other end soon afterwards when he steered a header just over the goal from a 62nd-minute corner.

The breakthrough eventually came 10 minutes later and it arrived just seconds after Hunt made what turned out to be an inspired substitution, with Ighodaro getting on the end of a corner to score from close range with his first touch of the game.

However, SuperSport's lead lasted only nine minutes as the hosts hit back through Matuludi, who pounced from close range after Lebohang Nkaki headed down a free-kick into his path.

Both teams had late opportunities to win it, with Ighodaro lashing a shot just wide of the right post from distance in the 84th minute before Appollis drew a routine save out of Goss moments later after being played in on the left by Puleng Tlolane.

Polokwane City (0) 1 (Matuludi 81')
SuperSport United (0) 1 (Ighodaro 72')

Polokwane City: M. Sapunga, T. Matuludi, F. Baloyi, L. Nkaki, L. Ndlovu, M. Ramabu (A. Fikizolo 70'), N. Mabena (P. Marema 80'), N. Maphangule, O. Appollis, G. Mashikinya, H. Chauke (N. Raphadu 81').

SuperSport United: R. Goss, K. Johannes, I. Okon, T. Hlatshwayo, O. Bhasera, G. Margeman, T. Matodzi, L. Lakay, G. Moralo, T. Dzvukamanja (E. Ighodaro 71'), B. Grobler.

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