Rising star Shandre Campbell scored twice and provided one assist as SuperSport United trumped Orlando Pirates 3-1 in a DStv Premiership match at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Saturday evening.
The result sees Matsatsantsa take a firm grip on second place on the log, opening a four-point advantage over the third-placed Buccaneers, who saw their unbeaten run in the league come to a crashing end at six games.
SuperSport Utd recover from a goal down to beat Orlando Pirates 🔵⚽
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) December 23, 2023
Goals from Shandre Campbell and Bradley Grobler give Matsatsantsa the win ✅#DStvPrem pic.twitter.com/kTvRXIK838
Pirates got off to a flyer and claimed the lead in the fifth minute: Miguel Timm’s clever pass put Deon Hotto into space down the left and he provided a scuffed cross to the far post which was easily turned home by Fortune Makaringe for 1-0.
SuperSport were stunned by the early goal, but gradually found their attacking rhythm and began pushing Pirates onto the back foot, with the visitors twice needing centre-back Olisa Ndah to make key interventions against Bradley Grobler and Ime Okon.
Yet Pirates remained dangerous in transition and nearly doubled their lead on 27 minutes when Karim Kimvuidi latched onto Thembinkosi Lorch’s square pass and whipped a shot mere inches wide of the target.
On 36 minutes United equalised via a brilliant strike from 18-year-old Campbell, who latched onto Grant Margeman’s deep, diagonal pass and cracked a left-footed shot beyond goalkeeper Melusi Buthelezi for his first senior goal.
Matsatsantsa completed the turnaround and went ahead at 2-1 11 minutes into the second half, with Campbell turning provider: his corner kick picked out an unmarked Bradley Grobler, who easily headed home for his ninth career goal against the Buccaneers.
Pirates responded by sending on Relebohile Mofokeng and Zakhele Lepasa – and the latter quickly enjoyed two clear scoring chances in the 65th and 67th minutes but was unable to capitalise on either.
SuperSport extended their lead to 3-1 in the 74th minute when Campbell caught Buthelezi in possession outside of the penalty area, was able to resist the goalkeeper’s attempt to foul him and stroked the ball into an empty net to complete a brace.
Ladies and gentlemen, Shandre Campbell. That's the post. #MatsatsantsaUnified | #DStvPrem pic.twitter.com/Ph4YIYyo25
— SuperSport United FC (@SuperSportFC) December 23, 2023
Lepasa had another chance to alter the score line in the 86th minute, but he saw his shot from the right of the penalty area well saved by goalkeeper Ricardo Goss – with the rebound looping off a SuperSport defender and drifting just wide.
The teams will return to DStv Premiership action next weekend, with Pirates hosting Stellenbosch on Friday 29 December, while SuperSport will be away to Richards Bay the following day.
SuperSport United (1) 3 (Campbell 36’ 74’, Grobler 56’)
Orlando Pirates (1) 1 (Makaringe 5’)
SuperSport: Goss, Johannes, Okon (Matodzi 72’), Moralo, Campbell (Dzvukamanja 82’), Lungu, Ndlovu, Margeman, Lakay, Baloyi (Hamza 88’), Grobler (Ighodaro 88’)
Pirates: Buthelezi, Makaringe (Baloni 79’), Ndah, Xoki, Hotto (Maela 84’), Timm (Saleng 79’), Ndlondlo, Kimvuidi, Lorch, Otladisa (Mofokeng 64’), Makgopa (Lepasa 64’)