Bucs and Supersport players fighting for the ball
By Kopano Dibakwane
Supersport United solidified their second spot position on the DStv Champions league by beating Orlando Pirates to a merciless pulp with a 3-1 victory at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Saturday 23 December.
Pirates started the game like a house on fire and scored the first goal in the 4th minute of the first half, thanks to Fortune Makaringe.
Unfortunately for Bucs, their good start took a bad turn when the dynamic 18 year-old Supersport striker, Shandre Campbell, managed to equalise from a long range shot in the 35th minute, beating Bucs keeper Melusi Buthelezi.
Bradley Grobler strengthened a great combination with Campbell and left the Pirates defence huffing and puffing as they tried to avoid another goal from the Pretoria team.
Grobler finally scored the second goal to give Matsatsantsa a Pitori a comfortable lead. Pirates coach Jose Riveiro’s tactics were exposed and he had to make some substitutions to remedy the situation, but it was too late to match the opponent. Zakhele Lepasa, Monnapule Saleng and Relebohile Mofokeng were introduced to rescue Bucs from an obvious defeat, but their efforts were futile.
Campbell benefited from a blunder committed by Bucs goalkeeper, Buthelezi, in the 73rd minute. The young Campbell capitalised on the error of judgement by Buthelezi and scored his brace and the winning goal for Supersport. The fourth goal by Supersport was disallowed. The two teams were fighting for the second spot below the log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.
