Result: Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila 2-3 SuperSport United
Date: 17 October 2020
Venue: Thohoyandou Stadium
Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila's first game as a top-flight club ended in a 3-2 defeat to SuperSport United in the first round of the MTN8.
Matsatsantsa did not change much from last season's regular team, as Iqraam Rayners was the only new face in the line-up while TTM had a completely new team but they could only name three substitutes on their team-sheet.
The hosts were disorganised in the early exchanges as Bradley Grobler eventually gave United the lead in the eighth minute with a strike at the near post from Ghampani Lungu's cut-back.
Rayners missed a sitter in the 16th minute but made up for it just before the half-hour mark, doubling the lead for the visitors with a curler into the top corner after he was offered space inside the box to pick his spot.
Lungu added a third goal for Kaitano Tembo's charges in the 33rd minute with a cracking low strike on the far side of the box after he also had space to aim at goal, with TTM in sixes and sevens at the box.
However, Mogakolodi Ngele gave Vhadau Vha Damani some hope on the stroke of half-time after pulling a goal back with a sensational curling strike from outside the box that found the top corner.
Shot-stopper Brighton Mhlongo kept TTM in the game five minutes inside the second stanza with a crucial save at the back post to deny Lungu a brace, who had a close-range free header from Grobler's cross.
Just minutes after Brighton Mhlongo denied Lungu a second goal, Ngele reduced the deficit for the hosts once again 11 minutes from the break with a powerful header at the near post to complete his brace.
Shonga thought he had equalised for Joel Masutha's troops in the 63rd minute after placing a low strike into the bottom corner from Lerato Lamola's through ball but the linesman was quick to raise his flag for offside.
Shonga came close to levelling matters for TTM with 20 minutes left after finding space to face Williams at the near post but his left-footed strike was parried away by the Bafana Bafana shot-stopper at point-blank range.
Lehlohonolo Nonyane was also presented with a change for Masutha's men in the last quarter of an hour with a looping header at the back post from Shonga's cross that caught Williams flat-footed but missed the bottom corner by a whisker.
Despite the late push by TTM, Williams made a crucial save with his leg in the latter stages of the half to ensure SuperSport walked away with the win to advance to the semi-finals.
TTM: Mhlongo, Lukhubeni, Nkili, Nonyane, Theron, Timm, Maphangule, Ngema, Lamola, Ngele, Shonga.
Subs: Arubi, Manaka, Monyamane.
SuperSport: Williams, Daniels, Kekana, Khumalo, Bhasera, Mokoena, Rayners, Lungu, Gabuza, Grobler, Webber.
Subs: Pule, Chigova, Moralo, Mathebula, Ndhondhi, Phillips, Mbule, Appollis, Mohomi.
