SuperSport United held off Kaizer Chiefs for a hard-earned 1-0 win in a DStv Premiership match at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday evening.
An early goal from Terrence Dzvukamanja was enough to separate the teams on the night, with Matsatsantsa shifting up to third place on the log (eight points off the pace of leaders Mamelodi Sundowns) with a fourth win, while the Amakhosi are eighth (a further points back) after a third league loss this season.
SuperSport got off to a flying start and claimed the lead inside the opening 70 seconds, with a high press allowing Bradley Grobler to latch onto a loose ball and tee up Dzvukamanja, who volleyed home on his left foot for 1-0.
Former Buccaneer Terrence Dzvukamanja has caught Chiefs napping! ⚽
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) September 20, 2023
📺 Stream #DStvPrem live: https://t.co/TesYUfo62x pic.twitter.com/LQeN9Ne7Br
Chiefs went on to build some solid attacking pressure, with Ashley Du Preez particularly penetrative cutting inside from the left channel, though too often the team in gold and black lacked the necessary precision to trouble goalkeeper Ricardo Goss.
One such example arrived just past the half-hour mark when Christian Saile got on the end of a cross from Edson Castillo but failed to find the target, while Jasond Gonzalez was achingly close a short while later, as the visitors continued their search for an equaliser.
The first half closed with Chiefs having enjoyed most of the attacking play, especially in the lead up to the interval, but United remained 1-0 to the good.
The Amakhosi continued to enjoy more possession and territory in the early stages of the second half, though Matsatsantsa looked more dangerous on transition – in part thanks to the introduction of Gape Moralo off the bench.
Chiefs built up major pressure from around the hour mark up to 75 minutes when a mistake from their veteran goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune almost allowed SuperSport to claim a second, but substitute Keenan Bezuidenhout struck an ambitious lob just wide of the mark.
The visitors almost levelled the game on 83 minutes when a collision and scramble in the box in the wake of a free kick saw the ball hit the frame of the goal, while United had a major chance of their own shortly thereafter which saw substitute Jabu Matsio brilliantly denied by Khune.
The Amakhosi’s last close-shave in attack came in the 89th minute when substitute Ranga Chivaviro sent an acrobatic volley just over the crossbar, allowing Matsatsantsa to claim victory.
SuperSport United condemns Chiefs to a third league defeat this season ❌❌❌
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) September 20, 2023
Terrence Dzvukamanja’s early opener is the difference between the teams ⚽
📺 Stream the post-match wrap live: https://t.co/TesYUfo62x pic.twitter.com/Bch9RSQTKS
Chiefs will be in MTN8 action this weekend when they face Mamelodi Sundowns, while SuperSport’s next league match is away to Chippa United next Tuesday.
SuperSport United (1) 1 (Dzvukamanja 2’)
Kaizer Chiefs 0
SUPERSPORT: Goss, Okon, Hlatshwayo, Xulu, Pfumbidzai, Nange (Moralo 46’), Margeman, Lungu (Bezuidenhout 29’), Dzvukamanja, Lakay (Matsio 82’), Grobler (Ighodaro 62’)
CHIEFS: Khune, Msimango, Kwinika, Ditlhokwe, Hlanti, Maart, Matlou (Mdantsane 81’), Castillo, Du Preez, Saile (Mmodi 62’), Gonzalez (Chivaviro 81’)