Royal frustrate wasteful SuperSport

SuperSport United dropped points in the DStv Premiership when they drew 1-1 with Royal AM at the Chatsworth Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The draw saw Matsatsantsa remain second on the league standings and they will be looking to bounce back to winning ways when they host Maritzburg United on Friday.

While Thwihli Thwahla climbed up to the sixth spot on standings, they are scheduled to renew their rivalry with AmaZulu FC in a KwaZulu-Natal Derby clash away on 25 February.

Matsatsantsa looked dangerous from set-pieces and they broke the deadlock in the 25th minute when Bradley Grobler netted with a header from Patrick Maswanganyi's corner-kick to make it 1-0 to SuperSport.

However, Thwihli Thwahla finished the first half the stronger of the two teams and they managed to level matters when Kabelo Mahlasela hit the back of the net to make it 1-1 seven minutes before halftime.

Hugo Nyame was the busier of the two goalkeepers after the restart as Matsatsantsa looked to restore their lead and the Cameroonian shot-stopper denied Thapelo Maseko with a diving save in the 53rd minute.

Experienced striker Lesvin Stoffels was introduced by Royal coach John Maduka in the 65th minute, but the visitors continued to threaten as Onismor Bhasera was denied by Nyame with 11 minutes left on the clock.

SuperSport were left to rue their missed chances on the day as the match ended in a 1-1 draw, with Royal having contained the three-time league champions on a rainy afternoon in Durban.

Royal (1) 1 (Mahlasela 38')

SuperSport (1) 1 (Grobler 25')

Royal: Nyame, Matlaba, Dube (Rikhotso 8'), Manganyi, Lingwati, Kobedi, Pelembe (Potsane 87'), Macuphu (Stoffels 65'), Mogaila (Gamildien 87'), Mahlasela, Potsane.

SuperSport XI: Goss, Ditlhokwe, Hlatshwayo, Johannes, Margeman, Bhasera, Maseko, Ndlovu, Maswanganyi (Gabuza 64'), Lepasa (Lungu 64'), Grobler.