Santos reached the last 16 of the lucrative Absa knockout competition on Wednesday night when they narrowly beat Free State Stars 1-0 in a match played at the Athlone Stadium.
The goal was scored by Erwin Isaacs in the 75th minute.
The visitors were unlucky to lose as they were the better team on the night. It is clear why Free State Stars are leading the second division.
Stars started at tremendous pace and, in the second minute, came close to scoring when there was panic in the Santos defence and the ball bobbed around, but Craig Bianchi cleared.
This shook Santos and in the fourth minute they had a corner. Mogogi Gabonamong headed the ball down towards the right corner, but Sipho Nkosi cleared the ball off the line.
The visitors played the better soccer and their passes were more accurate. They again came close in the 18th minute when Jimmy Zakazaka’s shot was brilliantly saved by a diving Wayne Roberts.
In injury time, Isaacs broke into the box and rounded the goalkeeper, but the ball rolled got away from him and Nkosi cleared it.
The home side came close in the 64th minute when Thembile Kanono sent in a long ball and Gabonamong’s header flew past the top goal post.
Stars almost levelled the score in the 84th minute when Duncan Lechesta’s point-blank shot was brilliantly saved by Roberts. — Sapa