SuperSport United huffed and puffed but they finally blew Platinum Stars down winning 1-0 at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Wednesday night to move three points closer to winning their third successive Absa Premiership title.
It was not pretty football, but after a dull first half United finally got their act together thanks to a 73rd minute goal from Brent Carelse.
The fact that United’s only challengers Mamelodi Sundown’s match against Moroka Swallows was abandoned with the Birds leading 2-0 due to a power failure at the Super Stadium in Atteridgeville also on Wednesday, will not worry United coach Gavin Hunt too much.
With two matches to play the defending champions need three points to secure a hat-trick of league titles.
United head the standings with 57 points five more than second placed Downs who now have that match against the Birds in hand.
There was little to write home or get excited about in a tame opening 45 minutes in which neither side was prepared to take risks and open up the match.
As a result there was no goal-mouth incidents and neither goalkeeper, United’s Emille Baron or Stars Tapuwa Kapini, was tested in a dull 45 minutes.
United played as though they were under pressure with their third PSL championship title on the horizon. They failed badly in attack where Siyabonga Nkosi and Mozambique international Dario Monteiro failed to ignite. Nkosi, the former Bafana Bafana midfielder, struggled in attack and lacked killer instinct.
However, Nkosi did create SuperSport’s only chance in the first half when he latched onto a well-placed cross from Ricardo Katza and watched in agony as his third-minute shot bounced off the upright.
Star’s only shot at goal at goal was a miss from Bradley Grobler in the 16th minute as the home side opted to hit the champions on the counter-attack.
Grobler, the pick of the Stars player,s showed how dangerous he can be with a great run inside the United penalty area in the 50th minute, but his final shot let him down.
Then came the breakthrough when Carelse showed brilliant control inside the Stars penalty area and unleashed an unbeatable shot that beat Kapini and flew into the back of the net.
In other matches played on Wednesday, Santos beat BidVest Wits 3-0, AmaZulu beat Free State Stars 1-0, Maritzburg United shocked Orlando Pirates 2-1 while Mamelodi Sundowns’ clash against Moroka Swallows was abandoned after 35 minutes due to a floodlight failure. Swallows were leading 2-0 at the time. — Sapa