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Matsatsantsa sink Pirates

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Thabo Rakhale of Orlando Pirates in a neck and neck race for the ball with Thuso Phala of Supersport United during the 2016 Telkom Knockout semifinal. (Samuel Shivambu, BackpagePix)
Thabo Rakhale of Orlando Pirates in a neck and neck race for the ball with Thuso Phala of Supersport United during the 2016 Telkom Knockout semifinal. (Samuel Shivambu, BackpagePix)

Johannesburg - Thabo Mnyamane’s first-half goal helped SuperSport United defeat 10-man Orlando Pirates 1-0 in a Telkom Knockout Cup semifinal clash at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Saturday evening.

As a result, Matsatsantsa will now take on Cape Town City in the 2016 Telkom Knockout Cup final on December 10.

City overcame Free State Stars 4-1 in the first semifinal earlier on Saturday.

Both teams were looking to stamp their authority in the opening stages of the game – Mnyamane tested Pirates goalkeeper Jackson Mabokgwane with a powerful shot from range in the fifth minute.

Pirates midfielder Mpho Makola had a chance to give his side the lead a minute later, but the Bafana Bafana international volleyed the ball wide.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 21st minute by Mnyamane, who scored from close range to make it 1-0 to SuperSport following a defensive error by the Pirates backline.

Bucs then pushed forward in numbers in search of an immediate response, with Luvuyo Memela forcing SuperSport keeper Reyaad Pieterse into a good save in the 35th minute.

Issa Sarr and Thabo Rakhale then unleashed shots from range that missed the target as the SuperSport defence frustrated Pirates until the first half ended, with the home side leading 1-0.

Dean Furman nearly made it 2-0 to SuperSport six minutes after the restart, but the SuperSport captain’s powerful shot was brilliantly saved by Mabokgwane.

At the other end, Pirates were struggling to penetrate the SuperSport defence with the likes of Memela and Thabo Qalinge forced to pull the trigger from range.

In the 70th minute, former Mpumalanga Black Aces winger Thabo Qalinge cut inside before unleashing a good shot; which narrowly missed the target as Bucs dominated the second half.

Pirates were dealt a major blow with 10 minutes left on the clock when Thabo Matlaba was given a straight red card following a dangerous tackle on SuperSport striker Jeremy Brockie.

Pieterse was the hero for SuperSport in the dying minutes of the game, parrying away Qalinge’s thunderous shot to ensure that SuperSport walked away the winners. – Backpage TXT

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Fixtures
Sat 30 Mar 24 15:30 PM (SAST)
Cape Town City FC
Cape Town City FC
Kaizer Chiefs
Kaizer Chiefs
Athlone Stadium
SuperSport
Sat 30 Mar 24 15:30 PM (SAST)
Stellenbosch FC
Stellenbosch FC
Royal AM
Royal AM
Danie Craven Stadium
SuperSport
Sat 30 Mar 24 15:30 PM (SAST)
Golden Arrows
Golden Arrows
Richards Bay
Richards Bay
Mpumalanga Stadium
SuperSport
Results
Tue 12 Mar 24
Mamelodi Sundowns
Mamelodi Sundowns 1
SuperSport United
SuperSport United 1
Sun 10 Mar 24
Royal AM
Royal AM 2
Cape Town City FC
Cape Town City FC 0
Sun 10 Mar 24
Polokwane City
Polokwane City 0
Golden Arrows
Golden Arrows 1
Logs
Team
P
W
PTS
Team Logo
1. Mamelodi Sundowns
18
14
46
Team Logo
2. Orlando Pirates
20
9
33
Team Logo
3. SuperSport United
20
9
33
Team Logo
4. Stellenbosch FC
19
9
32