Gavin Hunt came back to haunt his former side as SuperSport United defeated Kaizer Chiefs to move level on points with Orlando Pirates.
DStv Premiership
Result: SuperSport United 1-0 Kaizer Chiefs
Date: 13 May 2023
Venue: Royal Bafokeng Stadium
Chiefs made only one change from their cup defeat against Orlando Pirates, as Mduduzi Shabalala was recalled in place of Samkelo Zwane while SuperSport defender Thatayaone Ditlhokwe was in the line-up against a side he signed a pre-contract with and will join at the end of the season.
Matsatsantsa were the more attacking side in the opening exchanges, with Thapelo Maseko finding space a couple of times on the left wing but his crosses were not finding the likes of Bradley Grobler and Gamphani Lungu in the box.
As United built their momentum, Grant Margeman came close to breaking the deadlock on 20 minutes with a low drive from the edge of the box that was saved in the bottom corner by goalkeeper Brandon Petersen at full stretch.
Gavin Hunt's charges kept on coming and Maseko eventually located Grobler, who powered a diving header ten minutes before the break that was acrobatically parried out of the bottom corner by Petersen.
United finally broke the deadlock just before the interval after Petersen parried a cross into the path of Lungu, who looped a first time shot into the back of the net.
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Chiefs could not get into their rhythm going in the second stanza and Arthur Zwane finally made a double change on the hour-mark, one enforced, as Edmilson Dove had a head injury and he was replaced by Zitha Kwinika while Kgaogelo Sekgota came on for Shabalala in a tactical tweak in attack.
The Glamour Boys started to threaten going forward after that, with Dillan Solomons joining the attack with his pace.
But Zwane's men only had their first shot on target with ten minutes left, as Yusuf Maart unleashed a rocket that found goalkeeper Ricardo Goss well positioned.
Chiefs sent numbers forward in the dying minutes, including late substitute Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana but they could not get chances, as United held on for the win.
The win takes Hunt's charges level on points with second-placed Orlando Pirates heading into the final round of the season next weekend.
Here's how they lined up:
SuperSport United: 20. Goss, 27. Phillips, 16. Bhasera, 6. Ditlhokwe, 3. Hlatshwayo, 21. Margeman, 40. Maseko, 8. Ndlovu, 7. Grobler, 17. Lungu, 25. Maswanganyi.
Subs: 1. Chigova, 26. Donn, 18. Nhlapo, 10. Lepasa, 12. Webber, 11. Ngoma, 13. Gabuza, 29. Niang, 16. Mbatha
Kaizer Chiefs: 1. Petersen, 23. Hlanti, 2. Dove, 30. Ngezana, 39. Frosler, 8. Maart, 6. Sithebe, 42. Shabalala, 18. Solomons, 9. Du Preez, 21. Saile.
Subs: 44. Bvuma, 27. Njabulo Ngcobo, 24. Kwinika, 29. Dube, 22. Matlou, 36. Zwane, 19. Mashiane, 14. Sekgota, 28. Bimenyimana.
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