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Johannesburg - Kingston Nkhatha scored the only goal of the game as SuperSport United started life after Gordon Igesund with a 1-0 win over Free State Stars in the Absa Premiership at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday.
The Zimbabwe forward, who has been boosted by the appointment of Stuart Baxter, scored his first league goal since October to help the club to their first win of the New Year.
Nkhatha found the back of the net after 14 minutes, firing home a low shot past the Ea Lla Koto stopper who was unable to parry the ball from danger despite getting a hand to the ball.
Stars’ best chance of the half fell to Danny Venter soon after, the attacker unlucky to see his attempt cleared off the line by Dean Furman, who got back well to assist his goalkeeper.
The visitors should have pulled level four minutes into the second stanza, but Makhehleni Makhaula was unable to keep cool in front of goal after bursting into the penalty area.
Similar to what happened to Stars in the first 45, SuperSport were unfortunate not to double their lead on 50 minutes after Mark Mayambela's shot deflected onto the crossbar before Justice Chabalala hacked clear with Jeremy Brockie lurking.
Stars pressed forward for the equaliser, but SuperSport showed a new kind of desperation in the closing stages to hold on for all three points and subsequently move within one point of the top eight.
The Zimbabwe forward, who has been boosted by the appointment of Stuart Baxter, scored his first league goal since October to help the club to their first win of the New Year.
Nkhatha found the back of the net after 14 minutes, firing home a low shot past the Ea Lla Koto stopper who was unable to parry the ball from danger despite getting a hand to the ball.
Stars’ best chance of the half fell to Danny Venter soon after, the attacker unlucky to see his attempt cleared off the line by Dean Furman, who got back well to assist his goalkeeper.
The visitors should have pulled level four minutes into the second stanza, but Makhehleni Makhaula was unable to keep cool in front of goal after bursting into the penalty area.
Similar to what happened to Stars in the first 45, SuperSport were unfortunate not to double their lead on 50 minutes after Mark Mayambela's shot deflected onto the crossbar before Justice Chabalala hacked clear with Jeremy Brockie lurking.
Stars pressed forward for the equaliser, but SuperSport showed a new kind of desperation in the closing stages to hold on for all three points and subsequently move within one point of the top eight.
