Johannesburg - SuperSport United retained their unbeaten start to the Absa Premiership season with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Bidvest Wits at the Bidvest Stadium.
It was a tight game throughout and saw Gavin Hunt’s side playing the final 30 minutes a man short after Mogogi Gabonamong’s sending off.
Their was effort, industry and some neat build-up play in the first half, but not too much in the way of clear-cut chances in either box.
Overall the opening stanza was pretty evenly balanced with neither side able to gain any clear superiority, and for the most part lone strikers Glen Salmon and Ryan Chapman had a quiet time up front.
The opening chance of the match arrived after 11 minutes when Mario Booysen glanced a header marginally wide for the Pretoria side.
Wits grew stronger around the half hour mark and got in a couple of dangerous balls from out wide.
One came in from Lehlolongolo Masalesa, bouncing just in front of SuperSport keeper Ronwen Williams, who did well to maintain his concentration.
Another saw Bongo Jawiya sending in a well-flighted cross to the back post, but Nyiko Tshabangu made a hash at his attempt on goal.
With their height, SuperSport were always going to be a threat at set pieces, as they have been in seasons past.
But a decent chance was squandered in the 62nd minute when Bafana Bafana defender Morgan Gould got his angles wrong with a free header on goal.
The visiting team were then reduced to 10 men a minute later when Gabonamong was sent for an early shower for a second yellow card.
The game remained tight, but finally the deadlock was broken as Wits paid the price for a rare lapse of concentration in the 83rd minute, which allowed Jabu Maluleke to slip in a lovely ball for Kermit Erasmus, who finished superbly with a low shot across the face of goal and into the far corner.
It was a tight game throughout and saw Gavin Hunt’s side playing the final 30 minutes a man short after Mogogi Gabonamong’s sending off.
Their was effort, industry and some neat build-up play in the first half, but not too much in the way of clear-cut chances in either box.
Overall the opening stanza was pretty evenly balanced with neither side able to gain any clear superiority, and for the most part lone strikers Glen Salmon and Ryan Chapman had a quiet time up front.
The opening chance of the match arrived after 11 minutes when Mario Booysen glanced a header marginally wide for the Pretoria side.
Wits grew stronger around the half hour mark and got in a couple of dangerous balls from out wide.
One came in from Lehlolongolo Masalesa, bouncing just in front of SuperSport keeper Ronwen Williams, who did well to maintain his concentration.
Another saw Bongo Jawiya sending in a well-flighted cross to the back post, but Nyiko Tshabangu made a hash at his attempt on goal.
With their height, SuperSport were always going to be a threat at set pieces, as they have been in seasons past.
But a decent chance was squandered in the 62nd minute when Bafana Bafana defender Morgan Gould got his angles wrong with a free header on goal.
The visiting team were then reduced to 10 men a minute later when Gabonamong was sent for an early shower for a second yellow card.
The game remained tight, but finally the deadlock was broken as Wits paid the price for a rare lapse of concentration in the 83rd minute, which allowed Jabu Maluleke to slip in a lovely ball for Kermit Erasmus, who finished superbly with a low shot across the face of goal and into the far corner.