Ten-man SuperSport United kept their slim hopes of getting out of their CAF Confederation Cup group alive after edging ten-man Al Hilal Benghazi 2-1 on Wednesday evening.
CAF Confederation Cup
Result: SuperSport United 2-1 Al-Hilal Benghazi
Date: 20 December 2023
Venue: New Peter Mokaba Stadium
SuperSport changed virtually the whole line-up that beat Moroka Swallows in the league, as only Shandre Campbell remained in a youthful team skippererd by goalkeeper Washington Arubi.
United had a perfect start after Selaelo Rasebotja gave them the lead with only ten minutes on the clock with a strike in the box after a good attacking move.
Matsatsantsa remained on the front foot but they were caught on a counter-attack midway into the first stanza after Mohamed Salim levelled matters for Al Hilal with a strike from close-range.
Gavin Hunt's charges were down to ten men ten on the half-hour mark after Arubi was red-carded for handling the ball out of the box.
The game opened up after that as the Libyan side gained momentum but Resebotja almost restored the lead for the hosts just before the break with a strike that was deflected narrowly wide.
Al Hilal had a bad start in the second stanza after they were down to ten men six minutes from the break following the red-card of Ahmed Abdulaziz Mody for a bad foul.
Matsatsantsa almost caught the visitors cold immediately after that as Etiosa Ighodaro had a header that came off the post after a cross by Ronald Pfumbidzai from a set-piece.
Al Hilal had a good attacking spell after that as just after the hour-mark Muetasimballlah Al Taeb also came close with a strike that came off the post.
As the game continued to open up, Ighodaro eventually snatched the winner for United three minutes before time with a header in the box from a cross by Pfumabidzai.
The win saw United trail second-placed Modern Future by four points and equal on three points with Al Hilal at the bottom of Group A.
Here's how they lined up:
SuperSport United: Arubi, Mfolozi, Dopolo, Hamza, Pfumbidzai, Rasebotja, Nange, Donn, Campbell, Alber, Ighodaro
Subs: Goss, Grobler, Ndlovu, Lakay, Okon, Lungu, Rapoo, Bezuidenhout, Makubo
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