United off to a brilliant start

Alex United had a brilliant start to the season in the newly created ABC Motsepe League with a 2-0 win over their Soweto rivals, Soweto Panthers.

Panthers have the cross bar to thank as they could have easily conceded six goals in a match played at the Balfour Park Stadium.

From the first whistle, United piled on the pressure with Thobile ‘Yellow Bone’ Mkenene supplying the cross balls into the box. Team-mate Xavi van Rheede took some brilliant corners that gave the Panthers keeper a nightmare.

The teams went into the half time pep talk at 0-0, but the ice-breaker came 20 minutes into the second half after United’s Chadley Jacobs was fouled in the box. The referee did not hesitate in pointing to the spot, and central midfielder and captain Gavin Roman Abrahams made no mistake.

United’s coach Tracy-Lee Pepper then introduced Matome ‘Chicho’ Mabeba and former captain Mduduzi Mabizela, both of whom tormented the Panthers defence. Mabizela provided some telling crosses into the box and one of these found Jacobs who had a good shout for another penalty when he was fouled, but the referee thought otherwise. However, Jacobs did score his team’s second goal from open play.

“I cannot fault anyone as I am 100 percent happy with the all-round performance of my players,” said Pepper.

Abrahams, who had a fantastic game echoed the words of his coach. “This was a brilliant performance and we are fit and ready for the long road [of the season ahead],” he said.

Panthers coach Bongane ‘Kappa’ Nhlapo said he was not happy with what he described as a “soft” penalty for the home side.