SuperSport clinches MTN8 title

Ronwen Williams came out on top in the battle of the goalkeepers, denying both Lyle Lakay and Judas Moseamedi from 12 yards as Matsatsantsa clinched the top-eight title for the first time in 13 years.

Sibusiso Masina and Thabo Mnyamane scored the goals for their respective teams in regulation time, with the two sides deadlocked at 1-1 after 120 minutes of football.

Matsatsantsa dictated early proceedings with Shu-Aib Walters called into frequent action, but the first clear-cut chance would fall to the Citizens on 13 minutes.

Sibusiso Masina found space down the right flank before whipping in a low cross, but Williams was quick off his line to save at Lehlohonolo Majoro's feet with the forward unable to make sufficient contact with the ball.

It would be Benni McCarthy's men to open the scoring as Masina found the back of the net in the 23rd minute. Ebrahim Seedat fed the attacker, who finished with aplomb from an acute angle.

The Citizens absorbed all the early pressure before punishing the Pretoria club with a free-flowing move.

SuperSport duly went in search of an immediate reply and had a great chance to level matters in the 34th minute. A mistake from Walters resulted in an opportunity for Bradley Grobler, but Seedat spared the goal-minder's blushes with an incredible last-ditch clearance to deny the forward from close range.

City were 1-0 up following an electrifying half which went some distance in warming things up on a cold and windy night.

Following a rather cagey start to the second half, Jeremy Brockie finally registered his first shot in anger. However, the New Zealand forward saw his fierce effort fly straight down Walters's throat in the 57th minute.

At the other end of the pitch, Majoro should've doubled the Citizens' lead on the hour mark, but the former Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates marksman failed to hit the target with the goal at his mercy.

The Citizens were then made to rue a catalogue of missed chances as Mnyamane found the back of the net in the 80th minute. The forward ran onto a superbly weighted through ball by Grobler before firing a left-footed shot into the back of the net.

His goal, though, came at a price with the attacker forced off with a groin injury moments later. Having already made all three of their substitutes, Matsatsantsa were forced to play the remainder of the game with 10 men.

This favoured the Citizens as the game entered 30 minutes of added time, with SuperSport forced to change their approach. Eric Tinkler's men opted to sit deep as a result with City controlling the tempo.

Adding to SuperSport's problems was the fact that Clayton Daniels continued to suffer with cramp, limiting the club to nine players on occasion.

Moseamedi had a late chance to wrap things up with 117 minutes on the clock, but with time and space inside the area the forward could only succeed in scuffing his shot wide of goal.

With nothing to separate the two teams after two hours of intense football, the game would be decided from the spot. SuperSport were flawless as Dove Wome hammered home the winner to send the Matsatsantsa fans into delirium.

SUPERSPORT