Royal AM moved ahead of Kaizer Chiefs into second spot on the DStv Premiership table, after they beat SuperSport United 2-0 at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
While the scoreline suggests a comfortable win for the visitors, it was anything but, and Kaitano Tembo would have been left a frustrated man after he watched his team fail to take their chances upfront.
SuperSport United 0-2 Royal AM
Royal AM took the lead in the eighth minute, when Mxolisi Macuphu made it 1-0 to the visitors, but for much of the first half it was the home team attacking, but failing to score.
SuperSport had an immediate chance to level matters after Thamsanqa Gabuza was fouled in the box a minute after the goal, but Hugo Nyame saved Jamie Webber’s penalty attempt.
Gamphani Lungu had two chances in succession for the hosts, but first Nyame saved his header in the 16th minute, before he shot off target five minutes later.
Webber went just wide on the half-hour mark with a long-range attempt, while Iqraam Rayners should have scored in the 40th minute but he failed to find the empty net from the edge of the area after Nyame had closed him down.
At half-time, despite SuperSport having more opportunities, Royal AM led 1-0.
The heavens opened up in the second half, and the teams had the tough conditions as well as their opponents to deal with.
Tebogo Potsane forced a save out of Ronwen Williams in the 49th minute, while Webber was denied by Nyame again in the 57th minute.
Aubrey Ngoma made his SuperSport United debut off the bench, and his first action in the 59th minute was to take a shot at goal, but Nyame got down to make the save. Rayners was wayward with his effort in the 67th minute.
Ngoma went close again in the 73rd minute, but his header was just off target, while a minute later at the other end Kabelo Mahlasela was denied by a good block from Thatayaone Dithlokwe.
Royal AM were awarded a penalty when Guily Manziba, who had only just come on, committed a foul in the box in the 75th minute. Victor Letsoalo stepped up to take the spot kick and his composed penalty made it 2-0 to Royal AM.
That goal seemed to knock the wind out of SuperSport, and while they continued to try and get back into the game, AM were able to control the remainder of the game. And when the final whistle blew, John Maduka’s men took the three points and moved into second place, 15 points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.
