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SuperSport edge Spurs in Nedbank Cup

football12 February 2025 19:35| © Backpage TXT
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SuperSport United have become the first team to advance into the quarterfinals of the 2024-25 Nedbank Cup after they edged Cape Town Spurs 2-1 over 120 minutes at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Wednesday night.

The Motsepe Foundation Championship (second tier) visitors proved a tough nut to crack for the Betway Premiership (top flight) hosts, who had to come from behind to secure victory. The Urban Warriors claimed the lead via Therlo Moosa, but were pegged back by Matsatsantsa’s Ime Okon within the first half of regulation time. The teams then cancelled each other out through the remainder of the 90 minutes, plus most of extra time, before Lebohang Maboe struck an excellent winner to prevent the game being decided by a penalty shootout.

Spurs got off to a flying start and claimed the lead in the fifth minute via a superb solo goal from Therlo Moosa, who powered down the right flank, cut inside and fired a left-footed shot which beat goalkeeper Ricardo Goss at his near post for 1-0.

SuperSport gradually took control of the match and began to build major pressure around the midway point of the first half, with Spurs goalkeeper Neil Boshoff forced into two excellent saves to deny a shot from a free kick by Aphiwe Baliti, as well as a close-range header from a corner kick by Nyiko Mobbie.

However, Boshoff was helpless to prevent Ime Okon levelling the score at 1-1 in the 36th minute, as the defender powered home a close-range volley after Spurs had failed to clear their lines, or close down space, in the wake of a free kick delivery into their 18-yard box.

Matsatsantsa continued their dominance in the second half, and should have gone ahead in the 56th minute when Baliti did great work down the left flank before picking out Samir Nurkovic with a cross, but the striker put his header wide of the far post.

United opted for a double change just after the hour mark, with Terrence Dzvukamanja and Oratilwe Moloisane introduced off the bench, while the Urban Warriors brought on veteran Nazeer Allie midway through the second half.

In the 72nd minute SuperSport threatened in attack again, with Mobbie driving a long-range effort on target after a sustained spell of pressure, but Boshoff made another fine stop to keep the visitors on level terms.

The Spurs ‘keeper was in action again in the final minute of the regulation 90, coming off his line to close down the angle on Moloisane and ensure extra time was called for.

Late in the first half of the added half hour, SuperSport were inches away from taking the lead, as the ball ricocheted in a busy Spurs penalty area, struck the foot of Dzukamanja and then the upright.

Moments later, at the other end of the field, Moosa was presented with a good chance after a great ball from Ebrahim Seedat, but skewed his effort wide under pressure from Pogiso Sanoka.

The match seemed destined for penalties, but in the penultimate minute of extra time, SuperSport struck the decisive blow. The excellent Moloisane broke free down the left and provided a cut-back to pick out Lebohang Maboe, who drove home a fine shot from the edge of the penalty area to secure a quarterfinal spot for the top-flight side.

SuperSport United (1) (1) 2 (Okon 36’, Maboe 119’)

Cape Town Spurs (1) (1) 1 (Moosa 5’)

After extra time

SuperSport: Goss, Mobbie, Okon, Sanoka, Baliti, Lungu (Dzvukamanja 61’), Poggenpoel (Moloisane 61’), Ayer (Nkosi 103’), Saile, Maboe, Nurkovic (Magidigidi 87’)

Spurs: Boshoff, Gumede (Bhengu 113’), Bezuidenhout (Allie 68’), Du Plessis, Seedat, Mfecane (Ryan 79’), Claasen, Bern, Moroole (Moss 113’), Moosa (Agyei 113’), Baartman (Boji 90’)

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