adminMwanjali and Mushekwi, who remain suspended from national duty after being fingered in the Asiagate scandal, played the whole match while Nyandoro came in the 65th minute for Surprise Moriri but he too could do little to save his colleagues, who were already numerically disadvantaged following the expulsion of Clayton Daniels who was shown a straight red card in the 17th minute for a crude tackle on Kermit Erasmus.
The victory was SuperSport’s third in the Nedbank Cup competition, but their first since they beat BidVest Wits in the 2005 final.
It was also the second win in the competition for coach Gavin Hunt, who led Moroka Swallows to a 3-1 success over Manning Rangers in 2004.
As early as the eighth minute SuperSport were twice denied the lead by the brilliance of Sundowns goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands.
Thabiso Nkoana skilfully cut in from the right wing and forced a good save off Sandilands and then from the rebound Nkoana crossed for Sibusiso Zuma who was also denied by the Bafana Bafana shot stopper from six yards.
The match’s most important moment came in the 17th minute when Sundowns centre half Daniels was shown a straight red card for bringing down Erasmus outside the box.
Matsatsantsa then made the extra man count when September lost his markers and met Sahmeeg Doutie’s corner kick and headed home at the far post.
The Brazilians started the second stanza in a spirited mood and could have equalised in the 52nd minute when Modise attempted a right-footed shot just outside the box that went agonisingly over the bar.
But in the 60th minute, all Sundowns momentum was killed when United grabbed their second goal, which effectively closed out the match.
Zuma found an unmarked Erasmus and his first shot was saved by Sandilands from close range, but he did not need a second invitation when he coolly lobbed the rebound into an empty net.
The Brazilians tried by all means but could not do enough to keep the match alive as Matsatsantsa won their first trophy under triple league winning coach Gavin Hunt. — Sports Reporter/ KickOff.
Online Reporter