SuperSport United are through to the MTN8 final after a superb display against Maritzburg United at Harry Gwala Stadium on Saturday 9 September 2017.
The second leg of the MTN8 semifinal between Maritzburg United and SuperSport United was a showpiece occasion and it lived up to expectations. Going into the encounter, the teams had played to a 1-1 draw in the first leg at Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium, meaning a goalless draw would have been enough to see The Team of Choice progressing to the final.
As expected, SuperSport United who were chasing the game threw everything they had at the hosts and they were duly rewarded as they went into the break leading 2-0 courtesy of Jeremy Brockie’s double. This is how the match panned out.
Matsatsantsa started with two big strikers in the shape of Jeremy Brockie and Bradley Grobler and their gameplan was simple, get the ball into wide positions and whip crosses in for the strikers to head in goals. Jeremy Brockie rose high in the 14th minute to head home the opener and the complexion of the game suddenly changed as SuperSport were now 2-1 up on aggregate.
The home team were now chasing the game and in the 44th minute their hopes of making a comeback suffered a huge setback when Brockie nodded home again to make it 3-1 on aggregate. The two away goals meant the home team had to score an insurmountable three to progress to the final.
Maritzburg United were reduced to 10-men in the 77th minute as Yazid Atouba received his marching orders for a second bookable offence. Both yellow cards were avoidable as the first one was for cynically tugging at the opponent’s shirt and the second was for diving in the box.
SuperSport have now booked a spot in the MTN8 final and they will face the winner of the semi-final between Bidvest Wits and Cape Town City. Cape Town City have a slight first leg advantage as they won 1-0 at home.
