SuperSport United missed out on reaching the CAF Confederation Cup group stages after a 1-1 draw against Modern Future on Sunday afternoon.
CAF Confederation Cup
Result: SuperSport United 1-1 Future
Date: 25 February 2024
Venue: New Peter Mokaba Stadium
SuperSport made wholesale changes from their Nedbank Cup last 32 win on penalties against Cape Town City, as only Ricardo Goss and Shandre Campbell remained in a youthful line-up that was captained by 20-year-old Ime Okon.
Future had a bright start as they put United under pressure in the early exchanges but they were not finding clear-cut opportunities.
The Egyptian side's pressure finally paid off on the half-hour mark after Ali Zaazaa fired home a strike in the box following sustained attacks.
Gavin Hunt's charges were fired up after that as Campbell had a threatening shot from range saved by goalkeeper Mahmoud Rahim.
Matsatsantsa ended the first stanza strongly, as they had chances through Etiosa Ighodaro and Tendamudzimu Matodzi but could not find the equaliser.
Hunt made changes at half-time as he brought on the experience of Thulani Hlatshwayo and Terrence Dzvukamanja in places of youngsters Yandisa Mfolozi and Selaelo Rasebotja.
The changes made an immediate difference as four minutes later Hlatshwayo came close to finding the equaliser with a header that was saved by Rahim.
Matodzi eventually levelled matters for United with 21 minutes remaining after a well executed header from a cross by Aphiwe Baliti.
The game opened up in the closing stages and Ghanam Mohamed almost snatched the winner for Future three minutes before time with a strike that came off the crossbar.
Hlatshwayo had a chance to win it for SuperSport as well in added time but his shot was saved by Rahim.
The draw meant Matsatsantsa can no longer progress to the knockout stages while Future made it through to the quarter-finals, with one round remaining.
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