Defending champions Supersport United finally collected three points in the league. This was at the expense of traveling Bloemfontein Celtic at the Masterpieces Morepe Stadium in Pretoria.
As Gavin Hunt pointed out after the match, Supersport had a whole team sitting up in the stands. Bongani Khumalo looks like he might not play that farewell match and the coach refused to divulge why King Laffor was in the stands signing autographs and shaking hands with little kids rather than on the pitch.
The match started with the home team pressing, with the diminutive Kermit Erasmus causing all sorts of problems in the heart of the Celtic defence. Off the pitch there was also a fierce battle raging as the Siwelele tried to sing louder than that band that travels with the champions. Their voices were lowered as the band`s volume was increased when Morgan Gould rose unchallenged to head home a corner kick. It was rather poor defending on the part of Celtics as it is a well known fact that Supersport are masters of the set pieces.
Bloemfontein Celtic were relying heavily on the long ball to the very tall Nathan Paulse. Unfortunately for them Paulse seemed to do more fouling than controlling of the football. Indeed one these fouls on Morgan Gould earned a yellow card. Pirates old boy, Bennet Chenene should have brought the scores back to level pegging but put his siding effort well over the bar. Spandeel also had a chance with a header in the 41st minute which was turned for a corner. The resultant corner was wasted. The long balls to Paulse were only serving to put Bloemfontein Celtic under more pressure as the ball would come straight back. As half time beckoned Mdubanya sent Kermit clean through with a defence splitting pass and the young striker made no mistake with only keeper to beat.
In the second half, Celtic came more and more into the game peppering the United goal with shots. It was one of these shots that found it`s way into the net. It was a brilliant solo effort by heavily built Prince Hlela. Hlela`s shot from way outside the area is indeed a strong candidate for goal of the season. The threat of rain was almost as real as the threats of a Celtics come back. How the ball stayed out is quite a mystery. Katza made two crucial interceptions, one with his head and the second more crucial one with his feet right at the death. The rains threatened. Bloemfontein Celtics threatened. Neither of them delivered within regulation time.
It was a welcome win for Gavin Hunt who stated that he was definitely going into the transfer market come January. In fact the champions have an Angolan defender arriving in Pretoria this week. The coach said he would be looking for two defenders, two midfielders and one striker. Gavin Hunt also revealed that he was sad and disappointed with the situation at his former club, Moroka Swallows. Having taken the club out relegation territory to a top five club, the Supersport mentor hoped that things would improve for the Dube Birds.
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