A total of 27 622 soccer lovers descended on Mbombela Stadium on Friday night to witness SuperSport United and Kaizer Chiefs play to a one-all draw during an Absa Premiership encounter.
The game got off at a blistering start.
While many supporters were still dusting off their seats, United’s Mxolisi Machupu found the back of the net.
The lanky Bidvest Wits striker, who is on loan to United, headed home off a rebound from Chiefs goal minder, Bruce Bvuma.
The young keeper parried a shot from Aubrey Madiba into the path of Machupu, who easily nodded it home.
Matsatsantsa a Pitori’s lead was short-lived though, as Khama Billiat equalised in the 12th minute with a thunderous strike from outside the box, which left United goalkeeper, Ronwen Williams rooted to the ground.
From there on, the two sides continued to trade blows.
Both goalkeepers, Bvuma for Chiefs and Williams for United, teammates in the Bafana Bafana squad that is to face Libya, made some outstanding saves to ensure that there were no further goals.
The draw was a fair reflection of an absorbing game.
The two keepers, along with the club teammates, Dean Furman (who was not part of the game due to suspension) and Modiba, both of United, and Daniel Cardoso of Chief, left for Tunisia with the national team on Saturday night.They are currently in Tunis training with Bafana Bafana.
Their Group E African Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya will be played in Tunisia, due to the unstable security situation in Libya.
The match will take place at the 25 000-seater Stade Taïeb Mhiri‚ the home ground of CS Sfaxien on Sunday March 24.
Kick-off will be at 18:00 local time (19:00 South African time).
The 2019 Africa Cup of Nations will be hosted in Egypt from June 21 to July 19. Bafana need a draw from their final Group E game.
Libya needs a win. The South Africans drew 0-0 against Libya in Durban in September.
Meanwhile, Mbombela soccer enthusiasts will be up for another soccer treat on Sunday March 31 when Chiefs host Benedict McCarthy’s Cape Town City in the Nedbank Cup quarter-final encounter.
The match will take place at Mbombela Stadium at 15:00.
