On Friday night, Bradley Grobler brought up a special milestone as he
scored the winning goal in SuperSport United’s 2-0 victory over Maritzburg
United.
Both teams made two changes to their line-ups, with Thamsanqa Gabuza and
Jamie Webber starting for SuperSport, and Bonginkosi Makume and Karim
Kimvuidi recalled for Maritzburg.
The Team of Choice set up deep in their own half and had the first real
chance on nine minutes after Wayde Jooste unleashed a free-kick from range
that was parried away by goalkeeper Ricardo Goss, who denied Kimvuidi on
the rebound.
DStv Premiership result:
SuperSport United 2-0 Maritzburg United#DStvPrem pic.twitter.com/WtBu5nK3TM
— Sinethemba Sithole – Journo (@Sinethembah_) February 24, 2023
SuperSport looked more dangerous going forward, with Thapelo Maseko and
Patrick Maswanganyi a handful for the Maritzburg defence. However, their
final balls were not connecting with Grobler and Gabuza.
Gavin Hunt’s charges remained on the front foot and had a good chance
just before the interval after Grobler went through on goal and was
searching for the run of Gabuza on the blind-side, but left-back Bradley
Cross made a crucial interception to deny the former Pirates striker a
one-on-one with shot-stopper Renaldo Leaner.
Fadlu Davids’ men were more lively coming from the interval, especially
Jooste down the left wing, and the visitors almost broke the deadlock on
the hour-mark through a close-range header by Friday Samu that was
smothered by Goss.
Hunt looked for solutions in attack from the bench five minutes later,
bringing on Gamphani Lungu in place of Gabuza for a different approach.
Lungu made an immediate impact for SuperSport with dangerous crosses in
the area and Kegan Johannes broke the ice for the hosts four minutes later
with a header after the Zambian winger’s corner caused all sorts of
problems.
Grobler was awarded a penalty 11 minutes before time after Jooste shoved
Maseko down in the box. Grobler saw his spot-kick saved by Leaner but he
was able to volley home the rebound for his 100th goal in South African
football and ninth of the current campaign.
Goss pulled off an acrobatic save in stoppage time to deny Amadou
Soukouna a consolation goal for Maritzburg from a set-piece as SuperSport
pulled five points clear in second position on the log.
