Thlone O.G downs Stars

An own goal from Bokang Thlone saw SuperSport United beat Free State Stars 2-1 in an Absa Premiership match at the Charles Mpolei Stadium on Wednesday night.

It was a slow start to the game as both sides lacked imagination in the final third and created very little in front of goal.

The game, however, sprung into life in the 18^th minute when Free State took the lead afterCamaldine Abraw found the back of the net with a powerful header form a corner-kick, 1-0.

After going behind United took firm control of the game as they tried to muster their way back into the match.

In the 23^rd minute Bradley Grobler tried his luck from long range, but saw his effort well-saved by Tshepo Motsoeneng.

Five minutes later SuperSport drew themselves level thanks to a clinical finish from Innocent Mkhabela, 1-1.

The away side continued to dominate the match after that and only a brilliant save from Motsoeneng denied Thuso Phala from a 24-yard free-kick in the 31^st minute

Morne Nel also came close to finding Supersport’s second goal with a stinging long range effort that skimmed the wrong side of the woodwork four minutes before the break.

United started the second half the brighter of the two teams when Dino Ndlovu let loose from the edge of the box a minute after the restart, but Motsoeneng was up to the task and made a good save.

Four minutes later the crossbar came to the rescue of Stars when Angelo Kerspuy saw his effort come off the woodwork.

Stars offered very little in attack in the second 45 with their best chance of the half coming in the 61^st minute when Abraw fired narrowly wide from roughly 20-yards out.

In the 70^th minute United made their second half pressure tell when Bokang Thlone turned the ball into his own net to give the away side the lead, 2-1.

Phala nearly made it three in the 84^th minute with a long range strike, but the keeper made another fine stop.

The game ended 2-1 in favour of United.

Free State Stars (1) 1 (Abraw 18’)

SuperSport United (1) 2 (Mkhabela 28’, Thlone 70’ og)

Teams

Stars: Motsoeneng; Sadat Ouro-Akoriko            , Cardoso, Thlone (Patel 89’), Kerspuy, Masehe, Nomandela, Thebakang (Sekola 65’), Basie, Abraw, Henyekane

Supersport: Williams; Moloi, Diouf, Gyimah, Mokeke, Grobler, Mkhabela, Nel, Phala, Manyama, Ndlovu (Khumalo 65’)