FIRST ROUND WRAP-UPPosted: 2009-08-10 18:46
The opening round fixtures for the 2009/10 Absa Premiership season have come and gone, with two of the ‘big three’ getting off to winning starts.
Maritzburg United 1 SuperSport United 1
The champions drop two points in the season opener as they come up against a very spirited – and physical – Maritzburg side. SuperSport take the lead through Morgan Gould’s glancing header, but the hosts level through ex-Matsatssantsa man Noah Chivuta, who slots a penalty after Gould had fould Bryce Aka in the area. Maritzburg came close to snatching the three points at the end, but the match is overshadowed by an injury to debutant Petrus Mahlatsi, who is rushed to hospital after a clash of heads.
Jomo Cosmos 0 Platinum Stars 0
Another stalemate for draw specialists Jomo Cosmos, though they will feel hard done by not collecting all three points. They do most of the attacking and have a few efforts cleared off the line, while Stars goalie Wayne Sandilands is also in excellent form. The visitors finish with 10 men following Oscar Ntwagae’s late red card.
Moroka Swallows 0 Golden Arrows 0
The Birds, with assistant Zeca Marques at the helm, will look back at this match as two points lost. They dominate throughout and almost take the lead in the opening seconds through debutant Siyabonga Nomvete, but his effort is saved by the goalie’s foot. What follows is a succession of missed chances, including a saved penalty from Davi Rancan.
Mamelodi Sundowns 2 Mpumalanga Black Aces 0
Goals at the start and end of the game from Katlego Mphela secured new Sundowns coach Hristo Stoichkov a debut League win, but the Brazilians hardly had it all their own way against the Premiership rookies. Aces missed some gilt-edged chances – most notably Madoda Motha and Gilbert Rudiger – that on any other day could have easily led to a share of the spoils.
Kaizer Chiefs 0 Santos 0
Santos went to Orlando Stadium to defend, and defend they did. Chiefs predictably dominated possession, but were unable to fashion many clear-cut chances – the closest they came to scoring was when Tinashe Nengomasha’s shot hit the upright. Santos had a few decent chances through substitute Erwin Isaacs, but Chiefs will be left to rue a cutting edge in front of goal.
Bloemfontein Celtic 2 Free State Stars 2
A Free State Derby of two halves as Stars dominate the first and take the lead through new signing Eldar Richartz, only for Celtic to bounce back after the break and take a seemingly winning 2-1 lead courtesy of Stars old-boy Prince Olomu’s brace. Celtic missed a host of chances after that, and were made to pay for their profligacy when Stars substitute Kingston Nkatha scored an equaliser two minutes from time.
AmaZulu 2 Bidvest Wits 2
Probably not the start AmaZulu were looking for, but coach Neil Tovey will be proud of the character shown by his players in twice coming back from a goal down. Calvin Kadi had twice put Wits in front, but Bafo Biyela’s penalty and a goal from captain Pere Ariweriyai ensured a share of the spoils. Tovey will rue his side poor defensive display, but knows he has some regulars due to return from injury.
Ajax Cape Town 0 Orlando Pirates 1
Bucs finally put the Ajax bogey to bed with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Newlands Stadium, with Benson Mhlongo netting the winner with a clinical header just after the break. Ajax will feel they should have got something from the match, and given the number of missed opportunities by both sides, this could well have been a very different scoreline, and possibly result.
HAVE YOUR SAY: What did you make of the opening round’s games?
source: http://www.kickoff.co.za/
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