FSS and United settle for draw

Bloemfontein - SuperSport United came from a goal down to claim a 1-1 draw away to Free State Stars in an Absa Premiership match at Goble Park on Saturday afternoon.
 
Edward Manqele and Anthony Laffor scored for Ea Lla Koto and Matsatsantsa respectively.
 
United went with 21-year-old Ronwen Williams in goal, and the youngster really gave a good account of himself in his first game in the elite league. 
 
United threatened as early as the fifth minute when Glen Salmon directed his attempt over the bar, but in the interim the referee had already whistled for a foul on Free State Stars’ keeper Kennedy Mweene.
 
But it was the home side who got off to an ideal start, getting a ninth minute goal via Edward Manqele, who was making his official debut.
 
Manqele was in the picture again with a powerful shot in the 11th minute, but Williams made a brilliant save to deny the winger.
 
Former Baroka FC midfielder Katlego Mashego might have scored a second goal after a rebound from Dove Wome’s free kick, but his goal was ruled offside in the 38th minute.
 
Substitute Kermit Erasmus missed the best chance to give United an equaliser when he directed his free header wide after connecting with Tebogo Langerman’s cross in the 39th minute.
 
 Free State Stars continued to pile pressure on SuperSport United’s defence after the break, but the hard running Edward Manqele had another goal disallowed in the 46th minute.
 
Wome showed tenacity in the middle of the park and underlined his debut for the Free State Stars with a commendable performance. He had a stunning free kick goal disallowed in the 73rd minute after his teammate Aleni Lebyane was adjudged to have been off-side.
 
At some stages of the game, the players resorted to rough play, and in the interim the referee stamped his authority and Phumlani Mhamha, Rudiger Gilbert Paulos Masehe and Manti Moholo (all of Stars) as well as SuperSport United’s Morgan Gould were booked by the referee.
 
The best teams graft when the craft is missing and SuperSport pushed back by force of will into the game.
 
 United also looked dangerous on a few raids they launched in the second half and their efforts were rewarded when Erasmus was fouled by Phumlani Mhamha inside the Stars danger area, and the referee awarded a spot kick. From that resultant spot kick, Anthony Laffor made no mistake, sending keeper Mweene the wrong way in the 57th minute.