Sport

SuperSport win third PSL title running

Brad Morgan

25 February 2010

SuperSport United were beaten 2-1 by Bidvest Wits on Wednesday evening, but a surprise 2-0 loss by Mamelodi Sundowns to bottom-of-the-table Jomo Cosmos saw United crowned South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) champions for the third season in succession.

After the game, Matsatsantsa coach Gavin Hunt said he was disappointed that his team had stumbled over the finishing line. Talking to Football365.co.za, he said: "It is disappointing because we have lost a match three years in succession on the day that we have clinched the title. I would prefer to be on the winning side as we celebrate winning the title, that's the only disappointing thing about tonight."

Nonetheless, in his post-match interview, the three-time PSL coach of the year - in 2008 and 2009 with SuperSport United and 2002 with Black Leopards - looked at the bigger picture and how his team had performed over the course of the season and declared himself satisfied.

'A lot of heart'

"All in all, it's what you do over 30 games and we didn't have the technical ability in our team, we don't have it. You know, we've sold all our technically very good players and we've got a bunch of players that give a lot of heart," he explained.

"We keep our shape, we keep our pattern. We work on our shape and our pattern, our pattern of play. But, obviously, we missed a few players tonight again. But, all in all, it's what you do over 30 games."

When offered congratulations on winning the title again, Hunt said: "Congratulations to the players, the players deserve the credit. They stick by me day in and day out.

'A sign of improvement'

"You know, all the hours on the training ground, we work hard. We've got more points now than we had the last two campaigns, so that's important for me. That shows a sign of improvement."

With one match to play, Supersport has 57 points, four more than Sundowns, who will finish as runners-up as they are five points clear of third-placed Kaizer Chiefs.

In 2009, SuperSport finished the season tied with Orlando Pirates on 55 points, but won the PSL title because they had a superior goal difference to the Buccaneers. In 2008, they claimed the title in the last round of matches, finishing on 54 points to the 52 of Ajax Cape Town.

Dominated

Hunt's charges dominated the opening half of Wednesday night's match against Bidvest Wits and Daine Klate nearly put Anthony Laffor in after a quarter-of-an-hour with a ball played over the top of the Wits defence. The striker, however, fired narrowly wide of the mark.

Despite their dominance, United found themselves behind 10 minutes later as Mark Haskins scored with a superb solo effort for the Students. Picking up a ball in midfield, he headed towards goal and then lit rip with a powerful shot from 20 metres that beat Emile Baron in the SuperSport goal all ends up.

After the shock setback, United turned up the heat on Wits again. Brian Umony had a great chance to pull his team back on level terms when he was put through for a one-on-one with goalkeeper Francis Chansa, but Chansa managed to stop him.

Level

Unfortunately for the net-minder, the danger wasn't cleared and when the ball was crossed back into the box Umony was on hand to head home and make it 1-1.

Umony came close to giving his side the advantage just before the break after he got off a strong shot from inside the box, but Chansa was up to the challenge and steered the ball behind for a corner.

The Students then almost stunned United for the second time in the half when in injury time Patrick Phungwayo set up Fabricio Rodrigues only six years out. Rodrigues, however, spurned the excellent opportunity by heading over the top of the goals.

SuperSport again dictated terms in the second stanza but, as had happened in the first half, Wits hurt them on the counter-attack.

Second half

Rodrigues, who had missed a guilt-edged chance just before halftime, made ground down the left and then found Calvin Kadi with an accurate cross. Kadi met the ball with the side of his foot and beat Baron from close range as the United defenders looked on to put Wits ahead again.

Hunt's charges tried to come back for a second time, but Wits held on for the victory.

Thankfully, for SuperSport United, Jomo Cosmos produced the most unexpected of results against a Mamelodi Sundowns’ team that had gone 14 matches without defeat, resulting in Matsatsantsa's earliest clinching of the PSL title in their three successive seasons as champions.

The early conclusion of the PSL means the focus of football in South Africa will turn very decisively to the 2010 Fifa World Cup™. Kick-off is on 11 June.