Bradley Grobler scored the first hat-trick of the 2023-24 DStv Premiership season as SuperSport United claimed a 3-1 triumph over Royal AM at the TUT Stadium on Thursday evening.
Matsatsantsa bounced back from a chastening 4-1 loss to Polokwane City in the Carling Knockout this past weekend and rise to second spot on the log (five points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns), while Thwihli Thwahla have now suffered four straight defeats across all competitions and remain in 14th place.
SuperSport started strongly and almost claimed the lead in the 10th minute, with Etiosa Ighodaro capitalising on some sloppy defensive play from Shadrack Kobedi to fire a shot on target, but he was denied by an excellent save from Royal goalkeeper Hugo Nyame.
Yet the hosts went ahead just two minutes later, with Kegan Johannes overlapping down the right and crossing to find Bradley Grobler, who ghosted ahead of his marker and finished (albeit awkwardly off his shin) from close range for 1-0.
Matsatsantsa should have added to their advantage in the opening quarter of the match, with Terrence Dzvukamanja heading an effort against the post, while Grobler also forced another fine save from Nyame.
Royal found their footing in the latter stages of the first half, as Sedwyn George went close with an improvised volley from a left-flank cross, before Thabo Matlaba saw a low effort from the edge of the box saved by United goalkeeper Ricardo Goss in the 41st minute.
Thwihli Thwahla found an equaliser five minutes into the second half, with a left-flank cross flicked on by a SuperSport defender before Zukhile Mkhize headed an effort on target – he was initially denied by a fine save from Goss, but latched onto the rebound and volleyed home from close range for 1-1.
SuperSport, though, upped their game and retook the lead in the 76th minute, with Grobler heading home from close range after Nyame had twice fluffed his lines in attempting intercept aerial crosses.
And Grobler completed his hat-trick on 84 minutes when Dzvukamanja whipped in a low cross from the left and the striker provided a cushioned finish into the far corner to seal a 3-1 triumph for the hosts.
SuperSport are scheduled to be back in league action on Wednesday 1 November when they face TS Galaxy away from home, while Royal’s next clash is at home to Golden Arrows on Tuesday 7 November.