SuperSport book final eight spot

SuperSport United beat Ajax Cape Town 2-1 to book their place in the last eight of this year’s Telkom Knockout in a game played at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville on Saturdayafternoon.

The Urban Warriors took the early ascendency thanks to an Edwin Gyimah own goal. A strike from Sibusiso Khumalo and an own goal from Thulani Hlatshwayo handed Matsatsantsa the victory.

Matsatsantsa ended the game with 10-men after Gyimah, who had a terrible afternoon, received his second yellow card with 13 minutes remaining in the fixture.

Sameehg Doutie and Mame Niang were included in the starting 11 for SuperSport United. Doutie, who formally played for Ajax Cape Town, was preferred to Bennett Chenene, while Niang kept his spot with Bradley Grobler denied a reunion with his contracted club after picking up a knee injury.

Franklin Cale started against his former employers, while there was a debut for striker Tashreeq Morris. Finland shotstopper Anssi Jaakkola continued in goal for the Urban Warriors.

The Urban Warriors went into the encounter looking to exact some revenge following what happened in the first round of the competition last year. Matsatsantsa beat the Urban Warriors in the Western Cape to go through to the quarter-final stage.

Ajax were on course as early as the fourth minute thanks to an own goal from Edwin Gyimah. The Ghanaian deflected Lance Davids attempt from distance past a wrong footed Ronwen Williams to give the visiting side an early lead.  

SuperSport United, though, looked the stronger side and deservedly levelled through Sibusiso Khumalo 10 minutes later. The fullback raced up field before finding the back of the net via the inside of the post to score his first goal in the blue of SuperSport.

Matsatsantsa took the lead in the 27^th minute of the encounter thanks to a Thulani Hlatshwayo own goal. Mame Niang set up David Mathebula whose effort in turn was guided past a helpless Anssi Jaakkola.

SuperSport controlled the first stanza, keeping hold of possession and frustrating the visitors. The first half ended 2-1 in the favour of the hosts.

The Urban Warriors came out more positive after the interval pressing forward in search of the equaliser.

The away side’s task was made a little easier in the 77nd minute after Edwin Gyimah received his second yellow card of the game for what seemed to be time wasting.

The Urban Warriors piled on the pressure in the final 10 minutes going close through second half substitute Bantu Mzwakali, Davids and Cecil Lolo, whose attempt from range scraped the paint of the top of the crossbar.

It was not to be for the Urban Warriors, who remain winless this season.

SuperSport United (2) 2 (Khumalo 14’ Hlatswayo [OG] 27’)

Ajax Cape Town      (1) 1 (Gyimah [OG] 4’)

SuperSport United:  Williams, Nkausu (September 69’), Fransman, Gyimah, Khumalo (Mkhabela 22’), Gabonamong, Lentjies, Doutie, Phala, Mathebula, Niang (Nxumalo 73’)

Ajax Cape Town: Jaakkola, Mobara (Lolo 71’), Hlatshwayo, Isaacs, Lebusa, Mokeke, Davids, Telinho (Mzawkali 43’), Morris, Cale, Rodgers (Paulse 75')

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