SuperSport United and Gaborone United played to a 1-1 draw in their CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round first leg on Saturday night.
CAF Confederation Cup
Result: Gaborone United 1-1 SuperSport United
Date: 16 September 2023
Venue: Botswana National Stadium
Coach Gavin Hunt handed starts goalkeeper Washington Arubi, Ime Okon, Phathutshedzo Nange, Lyema Dopolo and Thalente Mbatha following their loss to Golden Arrows before the international break.
SuperSport were making their first continental appearance in five years, having last featured in the Confederation Cup in the play-off round in 2018 where they were eliminated by Gor Mahia.
The visitors were called to defend in the early stages of the first half, with Arubi called upon to keep out Thatayaone Kgamanyan in the opening 15 minutes, while Thulani Hlatshwayo also made an important intervention.
Hunt's charges, who have only secured one win on the road this season, were unable to trouble Gaborone goalkeeper Ookeditse Semelamela in the opening 45 minutes as the sides went into the break scoreless.
SuperSport got the breakthrough three minutes after the halftime break, with substitute Keenan Bezuidenhout finding the back of the net just minutes after his introduction off the bench.
The home side responded by throwing on Liberian midfielder Sheikh Sesay, while Molaodi Tlhalefang was also brought on for his debut in place of Onkabetse Makgantai for the final 30 minutes of the second half.
The changes paid off for the home side, who managed to snatch an equaliser in second-half stoppage time thanks to a strike from Sesay although SuperSport still have an away goal to take back into the second leg.
Here's how they lined up:
SuperSport United: Arubi, Dopolo, Okon, Hlatshwayo, Bhasera, Mbatha, Ndlovu, Nange, Lakay, Dzvukamanja, Lungu
Subs: Sam, Xulu, Hamza, Donn, Matsio, Margeman, Bezuidenhout, Campbell
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.
