Nedbank Cup match report Maritzburg United v SuperSport United 08 February 2022

SuperSport United progressed to the last 16 of the Nedbank Cup with a slender 1-0 win over Maritzburg United on Wednesday evening.

Maritzburg's new signings Nicholas Lukhubeni, Lucky Baloyi, Friday Samu and Tawanda Macheke were all handed their first starts, whereas Supersport offered Selaelo Rasebotja and Jesse Donn rare starts.

Matsatsantsa were the busier of the two in the opening minutes, as shots in succession from Iqraam Rayners and Ghampani Lungu forced goalkeeper Marcel Engelhardt to work.

The Team of Choice overcame their slow start and saw a low rasping strike on the edge of the area by Daylon Claasen force Ronwen Williams into action after 28 minutes played.

Kaitano Tembo's men recovered dominance a little inside the closing quarter through a snap strike from Rasebotja and a Jamie Webber's looping attempt.

Scroll through the gallery below to see the latest completed PSL transfers:

Bradley Ralani – joined Mamelodi Sundowns from Cape Town City

Abbubaker Mobara – joined AmaZulu from Cape Town City

Jose Ali Meza – joined Club Always Ready from Maritzburg United

Rodrick Kabwe – joined Sekhukhune United from Zanaco FC

Ronald Pfumbidzai – joined Chippa United from Royal AM

Siphelele Luthuli – joined Chippa United from Royal AM

Vuyo Mere – joined TS Galaxy from Swallows FC

Lefa Hlongwane – joined TS Galaxy from Maritzburg United

Abraham Majok – joined AmaZulu (most recently on the books of PAEEK)

Justin Shonga – joined Sekhukhune United from Ismaily

Bongokuhle Hlongwane – joined Minnesota United from Maritzburg United

Lucky Baloyi – joined Maritzburg United from Royal AM

Douglas Mapfumo – joined Cape Town All Stars from Cape Town City (loan)

Evans Rusike – joined Sekhukhune United (most recently on the books of SuperSport United)

Genino Palace & Steven Pereira – joined Maritzburg United (most recently on the books of Academica & Oliveirense)

Luckyboy Mokonea – joined Sekhukhune United from TS Galaxy

Friday Samu – joined Maritzburg United from Green Buffaloes

Shane Roberts – joined TS Galaxy from Cape Town City (loan)

Teboho Mokoena – joined Mamelodi Sundowns from SuperSport United

Juan Carlos Ortiz – joined Stellenbosch FC from Monagas

Abdul Ajagun – joined Al Hilal from Cape Town City

The Team of Choice put on three substitutions at the start of the second half, with Riyaaz Ismail, Amadou Soukouna and Brandon Theron introduced.

These fresh set of legs almost worked out when a combination out wide by Soukouna nine minutes from the break resulted in a cross that Theron dragged narrowly wide from close-range.

Unlike the first stanza, Matsatsantsa were unable to get rhythm together midway in the second half as Maritzburg launched another threat through a free-kick from Soukouna, but there was not threat on Williams.

The Team of Choice continued to dominate and found chances to the breakthrough towards the last ten minutes, but Williams smothered Sambu from point-blank range.

With the game seemingly headed for extra-time,  Rayners worked an angle out wide following a square pass and curled into the top corner to send SuperSport into the next round.

Confirmed line-ups:

Maritzburg: Engelhardt, Claasen, Daniels, Ritchie, Graham, Ndengane, Rae, Lukhubeni, Baloyi, Samu, Macheke.

Subs: Leaner, Ismail, Kewuti, Palace, Human, Njoti, Skelem, Soukouna and Theron.

SuperSport: Williams, Philipps, Fleurs, Ditlhokwe, Bhasera, Webber, Donn, Rasebotja, Waiswa, Lungu, Rayners.

Subs: Pule, Nhlapo, Ngobeni, Avontuur, Moralo, Maseko, Mahachi, Maziko