Polokwane - SuperSport United ended 2012 with a 2-1 victory over Ajax Cape Town in an Absa Premiership match at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday night.
Matsatsantsa got a late winner through former Urban Warriors star Franklin Cale after earlier goals from Prince Nxumalo and Wanderson had left the match seemingly headed for a tame draw.
After a quiet start it was the visitors from Cape Town who had the first shot in anger, as Khama Billiat drove a 20m effort wide of the left-hand post in the 10th minute.
On 20 minutes it was SuperSport’s turn to threaten a goal and winger Sameehg Doutie nearly obliged with a shot from just outside the penalty area that had the beating of goalkeeper Sean Roberts but rattled the crossbar.
It seemed as if the match was heading to the interval with nothing other than a caution for Lucas Thwala as an added highlight, but on the stroke of half time young Matsatsantsa striker Prince Nxumalo marked his league debut with a goal to put his side 1-0 up.
The 22-year-old netted from close range thanks to an assist from veteran Sibusiso Zuma, who provided a low ball from the right of the box.
Ajax made a change just before the hour mark when they sacrificed defender Aidan Jenniker and brought on attacking midfielder Lebogang Manyama. The visitors’ more attacking approach almost brought an equaliser in the 66th minute when Wanderson shot just over the bar.
Yet just seven minutes later Ajax’s 18-year-old Brazilian did find the back of the net to make it 1-1, scoring with a low, left-footed shot from the centre of the penalty area that gave ‘keeper Ronwen Williams no chance.
However, United substitute and former Ajax player Franklin Cale had the last laugh when he scored the winning goal in the 89th minute, firing a left-footed effort into the top corner of the net to hand his side a 2-1 victory.
Scorers:
SuperSport United (1) 2 (Nxumalo 45+1’, Cale 89’)
Ajax Cape Town (0) 1 (Wanderson 73’)
Teams:
SuperSport: Williams, Nkausu, Fransman, Diouf, Thwala, Doutie, Mdluli, Gyimah, Maluleka (Cale 68’), Zuma (Hartog 60’), Nxumalo (Nkoana 74’)
Ajax: Roberts, Allie, Hlatshwayo, Booth, Jenniker (Manyama 58’), Graham, Losper, Scott, Van de Laak, Wanderson, Billiat (Grobler 73’)
Matsatsantsa got a late winner through former Urban Warriors star Franklin Cale after earlier goals from Prince Nxumalo and Wanderson had left the match seemingly headed for a tame draw.
After a quiet start it was the visitors from Cape Town who had the first shot in anger, as Khama Billiat drove a 20m effort wide of the left-hand post in the 10th minute.
On 20 minutes it was SuperSport’s turn to threaten a goal and winger Sameehg Doutie nearly obliged with a shot from just outside the penalty area that had the beating of goalkeeper Sean Roberts but rattled the crossbar.
It seemed as if the match was heading to the interval with nothing other than a caution for Lucas Thwala as an added highlight, but on the stroke of half time young Matsatsantsa striker Prince Nxumalo marked his league debut with a goal to put his side 1-0 up.
The 22-year-old netted from close range thanks to an assist from veteran Sibusiso Zuma, who provided a low ball from the right of the box.
Ajax made a change just before the hour mark when they sacrificed defender Aidan Jenniker and brought on attacking midfielder Lebogang Manyama. The visitors’ more attacking approach almost brought an equaliser in the 66th minute when Wanderson shot just over the bar.
Yet just seven minutes later Ajax’s 18-year-old Brazilian did find the back of the net to make it 1-1, scoring with a low, left-footed shot from the centre of the penalty area that gave ‘keeper Ronwen Williams no chance.
However, United substitute and former Ajax player Franklin Cale had the last laugh when he scored the winning goal in the 89th minute, firing a left-footed effort into the top corner of the net to hand his side a 2-1 victory.
Scorers:
SuperSport United (1) 2 (Nxumalo 45+1’, Cale 89’)
Ajax Cape Town (0) 1 (Wanderson 73’)
Teams:
SuperSport: Williams, Nkausu, Fransman, Diouf, Thwala, Doutie, Mdluli, Gyimah, Maluleka (Cale 68’), Zuma (Hartog 60’), Nxumalo (Nkoana 74’)
Ajax: Roberts, Allie, Hlatshwayo, Booth, Jenniker (Manyama 58’), Graham, Losper, Scott, Van de Laak, Wanderson, Billiat (Grobler 73’)