Superlative SuperSport again mesmerise sorry Amakhosi

JOHANNESBURG – SuperSport United again mesmerised Kaizer Chiefs in a PSL showpiece at Loftus in Pretoria on Saturday night, beating Amakhosi 2-0 on the eve of the club’s 37th birthday.

The result was not entirely surprising as Chiefs have beaten United only once since the 1998 season. Somehow, SuperSport make a habit of producing their best against Chiefs, and this one was no exception.A stunning headed goal by new defensive signing George Mofokeng in the 20th minute and an even more sensational one from the returning Katlego Mphela in the 65th minute sealed Chiefs’ fate.The defeat came as a major setback for Chiefs in the championship title race.They now trail log leaders Silver Stars by four points.Mphela, who played for SuperSport last season on loan from French club Strasbourg, is now back as a fully-fledged team member.He celebrated his return with a rocket-like 25-metre goal that left Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez rooted at the near post.Fernandez, however, brought off an astonishing point-blank save from James Chamanga in the 42nd minute when the Zambian international seemed certain to increase SuperSport’s lead.SuperSport would not have been flattered by a 3-0 lead at the interval, with Katlego Mashego producing a bag of deft tricks in the 31st minute to leave the Chiefs’ defence at sixes and sevens.But with the goal at his mercy, Mashego shot wide.Chiefs fought resolutely, but without any great imagination to turn the tide.Kaizer Motaung Jr had two golden opportunities to score but the disciplined SuperSport defence denied him.The work rate of the entire team contributed in no small measure to a win that restores the team to a challenging position among the eight teams who are vying strongly for the PSL title.While crediting SuperSport for “a deserved victory,” Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp said he believed the course of the game had been determined in the tenth minute when former Bafana striker Shaun Bartlett was injured and left the field with what appeared a serious knee injury.”Bartlett would have shadowed Mofokeng when Mashego centred the ball for the opening goal,” added the Chiefs’ coach.The game was a triumph for under-pressure SuperSport coach Pitso Mosimane, who was forced to sit out the tense and energising proceedings in the stands because of a two-month suspension, but undoubtedly played a major role in the team’s performance.It was also a triumph for the on-the-field director of operations and assistant coach Thomas Madigage, who handled the occasion brilliantly.Nampa-SapaSomehow, SuperSport make a habit of producing their best against Chiefs, and this one was no exception.A stunning headed goal by new defensive signing George Mofokeng in the 20th minute and an even more sensational one from the returning Katlego Mphela in the 65th minute sealed Chiefs’ fate.The defeat came as a major setback for Chiefs in the championship title race.They now trail log leaders Silver Stars by four points.Mphela, who played for SuperSport last season on loan from French club Strasbourg, is now back as a fully-fledged team member.He celebrated his return with a rocket-like 25-metre goal that left Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez rooted at the near post.Fernandez, however, brought off an astonishing point-blank save from James Chamanga in the 42nd minute when the Zambian international seemed certain to increase SuperSport’s lead.SuperSport would not have been flattered by a 3-0 lead at the interval, with Katlego Mashego producing a bag of deft tricks in the 31st minute to leave the Chiefs’ defence at sixes and sevens.But with the goal at his mercy, Mashego shot wide.Chiefs fought resolutely, but without any great imagination to turn the tide.Kaizer Motaung Jr had two golden opportunities to score but the disciplined SuperSport defence denied him.The work rate of the entire team contributed in no small measure to a win that restores the team to a challenging position among the eight teams who are vying strongly for the PSL title.While crediting SuperSport for “a deserved victory,” Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp said he believed the course of the game had been determined in the tenth minute when former Bafana striker Shaun Bartlett was injured and left the field with what appeared a serious knee injury.”Bartlett would have shadowed Mofokeng when Mashego centred the ball for the opening goal,” added the Chiefs’ coach.The game was a triumph for under-pressure SuperSport coach Pitso Mosimane, who was forced to sit out the tense and energising proceedings in the stands because of a two-month suspension, but undoubtedly played a major role in the team’s performance.It was also a triumph for the on-the-field director of operations and assistant coach Thomas Madigage, who handled the occasion brilliantly.Nampa-Sapa