×
NewsDay

AMH is an independent media house free from political ties or outside influence. We have four newspapers: The Zimbabwe Independent, a business weekly published every Friday, The Standard, a weekly published every Sunday, and Southern and NewsDay, our daily newspapers. Each has an online edition.

Nkatha double powers SuperSport

Sport
TSHWANE — South African top-flight football side SuperSport United powered into the last 16 of the Nedbank Cup with a 4-1 win over Polokwane City at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Wednesday evening.

TSHWANE — South African top-flight football side SuperSport United powered into the last 16 of the Nedbank Cup with a 4-1 win over Polokwane City at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Wednesday evening.

A first-half brace from Zimbabwean Kingston Nkhatha and further goals from Jeremy Brockie and Dove Wome saw Matsatsantsa recover from conceding an early goal to Rendani Ndou.

It was a match chock full of scoring chances, with play moving from end to end with relentless rapidity.

Polokwane drew first blood in the 15th minute when the excellent Jabu Maluleke set up Rendani Ndou, who fired an unstoppable long-range, left-footed shot into the corner to put the visitors in front.

Ndou missed a great chance to make it 2-0 just a couple of minutes later, shooting straight at Ronwen Williams after more powerful play from Maluleke, and he was to rue the miss after Kingston Nkhatha scored twice in the space of three minutes to put United ahead.

The equaliser arrived in the 25th minute, with Nkhatha capitalising on a poor goal kick from Modiri Marumo that was mis-controlled by Jabulani Nene. The striker’s snap shot was not especially well struck, but still somehow beat the City goalkeeper.

In the 28th minute Nkhatha provided an excellent finish with a diving header, glancing home David Mathebula’s right-wing cross via the inside of the far post to make it 2-1 to SuperSport.

On 36 minutes Nkhatha ran onto a great square ball from Thuso Phala and had only the ‘keeper to beat, but Marumo made an excellent low save to keep Rise and Shine within touching distance, while just before halftime the former Kaizer Chiefs man missed another great chance to complete his hat-trick.

SuperSport made two changes at the start of the second half, with Dove Wome replacing Nkhatha due to injury, while Michael Morton was brought on in place of Morne Nel to bring some steel to the hosts’ engine room.

Wome created United’s third goal in the 51st minute, crossing with the outside of his right foot from the left flank to set-up Jeremy Brockie, who did just enough to beat Marumo and rack up his third goal in as many games for Matsatsantsa.

The Togo international then went from provider to scorer in the 66th minute when he sprung Polokwane’s offside trap, raced through on goal and fired a missile past Marumo to make it 4-1.

Both teams created numerous chances to add to the score line in the final quarter of the match, but the score remained 4-1 in favour of the Tshwane side right up to fulltime. —SuperSport