SuperSport United struck in stoppage time to secure a 2-2 draw with Kaizer Chiefs at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday, writes DYLAN APPOLIS.
Stuart Baxter made five changes to the side that beat Bidvest Wits 1-0 in midweek, with Reyaad Pieterse, Grant Kekana, Micheal Morton, Reneilwe Letsholonyane and Thabo Mnyamane coming in to replace Ronwen Williams, Morgan Gould, Aubrey Modiba, Teboho Mokoena and Mandla Masango respectively.
Meanwhile, Steve Komphela made only one change to their side that suffered a 3-2 defeat against leaders Cape Town City as Lucky Baloyi slotted in alongside Willard Katsande in midfield, while Bruce Bvuma made his second start in the absence of Itumeleng Khune.
Amakhosi came close to opening the scoring in the seventh minute when Tsepo Masilela had his effort at goal cleared off the line by SuperSport captain Clayton Daniels.
Chiefs eventually took the lead through Siphiwe Tshabalala in the 14th minute after the midfielder’s strike from 20 yards out found the back of the net to make it 1-0.
The visitors almost doubled their lead in the 20th minute when Tshabalala set up Joseph Molangoane, but his effort from close range was denied by Reyaad Pieterse.
SuperSport levelled matters after 22 minutes as Mandla Masango curled his effort into the back of the net to beat Amakhosi shot-stopper Bruce Bvuma, after some good work by Reneilwe Letsholonyane.
Chiefs then restored their lead in the 35th minute when Ramahlwe Mphahlele set up Tshabalala, who slotted into the bottom corner to make it 2-1.
Komphela’s side went into the half-time interval with a 2-1 lead over SuperSport.
Substitute William Twala came close to extending his side’s lead in the 67th minute as he fired his effort into the side-netting from close-range.
Molangoane had a golden opportunity to add Chiefs’ third, but with only Pieterse to beat in the 77th minute, the midfielder blazed his effort wide of the target.
In the closing stages of the match, the Amakhosi shot-stopper came to his side’s rescue when he produced a fine save to deny Thuso Phala one-on-one.
However, SuperSport equalised in stoppage-time when Aubrey Modiba fired home after the ball took a deflection off Masilela to force the sides to share the spoils.
Image: Frikkie Kapp /BackpagePix
