SuperSport United were eliminated from the Caf Confederation Cup on the away goal rule, despite claiming a 2-1 victory over Gor Mahia in the second leg on Wednesday, writes DYLAN APPOLIS.
The home side came out with intent in the opening exchanges of the game and nearly broke the deadlock in the 15th minute when Sipho Mbule unleashed a strike at goal, but his effort failed to hit the target.
Boniface Oluoch came to Gor’s rescue in the 30th minute when he produced a fine save to deny Thabo Mnyamane’s effort at goal.
Matsatsantsa grew in confidence as the match went on and started seeing more of the ball, but were finding it hard to break down the Gor defence.
The visitors had a chance to take the lead three minutes before the interval, but Bernard Ondiek’s effort sailed inches wide of the target.
The match went into the half-time interval with the scoreline locked at 0-0.
SuperSport picked up where they left off in the first half, as Dylan Stoffels produced the first chance of the second stanza, but Oluoch was on hand to keep out his effort in the 52nd minute.
United eventually took the lead after 60 minutes when Haron Shakava put the ball into his own net to make it 1-0 in favour of the home team.
The Kenyan side responded immediately and pulled a goal back a minute later through Francis Kahata.
SuperSport then took the lead for the second time in the match after 68 minutes when Mnyamane showed his composure to find the back of the net, 2-1.
Aubrey Modiba nearly doubled his side’s lead in the 73rd minute, but Oluoch denied his effort from close range.
Gor almost pulled a goal back with eight minutes to play, but Reyaad Pieterse produced a great save to deny Kahata his brace.
Mnyamane should have put the game to bed in the 85th minute, however, the midfielder was denied by the woodwork.
However, United pressed forward in search of a goal in the closing stages of the match but could not break down the Gor defence as Kaitano Tembo’s side were eliminated from the competition on the away goal rule following the 2-2 aggregate score.
Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
