Bradley Grobler netted a brace and bagged an assist as he inspired SuperSport United to a big 3-0 win over Orlando Pirates in their Absa Premiership clash at the Mbombela Stadium on Wednesday night.
The Sea Robbers entered their second game of the season after picking up all three points in a 3-1 win over Bloemfontein Celtic in their league opener. Pirates, though, travelled to Zambia to face Green Eagles in a Caf Champions League qualifier on Saturday and had a quick turnaround to their next outing.
SuperSport started their campaign with a 2-0 loss against Mamelodi Sundowns in a Tshwane derby, but unlike Pirates they had no game over the weekend with all their focus on the clash with the Soweto giants.
Milutin Sredojevic made a number of changes following his side’s exploits in the Champions League and after a slow start to the game where both sides were feeling each other out.
The game was then held up after 15 minutes as Bucs goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands had to run back to the dressing room to change his kit to an alternative strip, as his colours clashed with that of SuperSport.
The game was quickly started up again and the first real opening came the way of Pirates as Fortune Makaringe forced Ronwen Williams into a smart save with his glancing header after 26 minutes.
Kaitano Tembo’s men then had a chance of their own five minutes later as Sipho Mbule intercepted a Sandilands pass to run through on goal, but his shot narrowly missed the bottom corner.
Pirates were sloppy with possession at the back and just four minutes later Thabiso Monyane tried to find Sandilands with a backwards header, but the ball was snatched up by Bradley Grobler who made no mistake in firing his team into the lead.
It was 1-0 to the home side at the break, with Pirates in need of some inspiration in the second half.
Sredojevic turned to his bench to bring on Thembinkhosi Lorch and Justin Shonga, but it was Matsatsantsa who continued to pile on the pressure.
Then, 10 minutes after the restart, Grobler doubled his and his team’s tally on the night as he snapped up a lose ball in the box before producing a thunderous strike into the roof of the Pirates net.
Pirates then put men forward in an attempt to get back into the game, but this left them vulnerable at the back. Ghampani Lungu took advantage of that space as he was played through on goal before smashing his shot past Sandilands to put the game to bed.
The Sea Robbers continued to show a fighting spirit, but it proved too little as Tembo’s men ran out impressive 3-0 winners on the evening to get their league campaign up and running.
