Santos plunged deeper into the Castle Premiership relegation zone at the Loftus stadium on Wednesday night when they were beaten 1-0 by SuperSport United.
The only goal was scored in the 47th minute by Abram Raselemane.
There was no score at halftime.
Santos started off like a house on fire and striker Lebohang Kukame was a little unlucky when his well-struck long-range shot cannoned off the crossbar after three minutes.
Two minutes later United defender Ricardo Katza did well to clear a close range shot from veteran striker Jean-Marc Ithier for a corner.
United striker Raselemane failed to control a ball inside the Santos penalty area and wasted a chance to break the deadlock in the 22nd minute.
Katza managed to save his side again in the 29th minute when he headed Edries Burton’s shot off his goalline.
Santos’ Namibian midfielder Robert Nauseb was lucky not to be given the red card for a blatant professional foul on the half hour. Nauseb deliberately tripped Lungisani Ndlela when the United striker was racing to goal with only keeeper Brendon Wardle to beat. He was given a yellow card by referee Peter Mabuza instead of a red which his foul warranted.
From the free kick outside the penalty area Wardle pulled off a magnificent save from Daine Klate.
Burton was again unlucky when his shot was deflected off the post in the 34th minute.
United struck the killer blow in the 47th minute when Wardle parried Ndlela’s shot and Raselemane was able to slot into an empty net.
The second half deteriorated as United were determined to hold onto their lead. But although Santos had their hosts under a lot of pressure at the end of the match, they failed to break down the well marshalled United defence. United were guilty of unsporting time wasting in the dying minutes.
Santos have 29 points with only two matches to play. The ”People’s Team” also have only two matches to play and are only three points ahead of bottom club Manning Rangers, that have three matches to play. – Sapa