/ 19 August 2007

Brace of goals leads to Birds’ exit from Supa8

SuperSport United winger Daine Klate scored twice to secure a semifinal berth in the SAA Supa8 tournament for his team as they beat Moroka Swallows 2-1 at the Olympia Stadium in Rustenburg on Saturday.

Klate netted either side of the break after Swallows striker Alton Meiring scored in the ninth minute in a tense quarterfinal clash. SuperSport coach Gavin Hunt was delighted with the victory over his former team.

Midfielder Lefa Tsutsulupa put Meiring through on goal with a pass from his half. SuperSport centre back Rudy Isaacs mistimed his clearance and Meiring ran on to the ball, and with only Andre Arendse to beat, the former Golden Arrows striker placed his shot beyond the stranded ‘keeper.

SuperSport almost equalised a minute later when Klate swung in a corner kick to the near post where captain Ricardo Katza met it with an accurate header. Greg Etafia though was at the right place and made a good save. With the ball not cleared yet, SuperSport players hastily tried to get a boot to it, but Swallows defended sensibly and eventually got the ball out of the big box.

SuperSport pressed on to get an equaliser, but the visitors kept their cool and contained them comfortably. However, with four minutes to go to half-time, Swallows conceded a free kick just outside the 18-area.

Klate stepped up to bend the ball over the five-man wall and, surprisingly, it bounced in front of Etafia, who went down low to his right and was unable to prevent the goal.

With no time for either side to take the lead, they went into the break level at 1-1.

SuperSport was livelier after the break and attacked from the onset, while Swallows seemed weary.

Katlego Mphela exposed Swallows’ sluggish defence when he sped down the right flank and set up Klate to score. With Goodman Mazibuko chasing his shadow, Mphela looked up to spot Klate at the far post and smartly played a pass to the speedy winger who just had to tap the ball in.

Swallows playmaker Tsutsulupa struggled to impose himself in midfield and his team became more jaded as the half wore on. With time and chances running out, the Dube Birds found themselves making an early exit from the Supa8, and this after a bright start in the Castle Premiership. — Sapa