Thabo Mnyamane of Supersport United celebrates a goal with teammates. (Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix)
Matsatsantsa fought back from a goal down to eliminate the Angolans who had their noses in front in the 50th minute through Elio Wilson.
Thabo Mnyamane struck twice in the second half to make sure that last season’s finalists advance to the playoffs.
Caretaker Kaitano Tembo lined-up a lethal looking Matsatsantsa side, comprising of almost every senior player in their arsenal and it paid off as the likes of Dean Furman, Morgan Gould, just to name a few, showed their experience.
United needed a victory after playing to a goalless draw in the first-leg in Luanda, and they did exactly that much to the delight of spectators at the Lucas Moripe Stadium.
It did, however, for most part of the game, seem as though SuperSport were destined to be dumped put of the competition as Athletico’sgoalminder Bruno Gerson was is superb form, keeping the likes of Darren Smith and Mnyamane at bay.
Before his brace, Mnyamane came close to beating the 30-year-old ‘keeper when he received a delightful ball from Aubrey Modiba. He did everything well but failed to keep his shot down as the cross bar denied United an equalizer.
Mnyamane eventually did get his goal when he tapped in from close range in the 78th minute to level matters two minutes after Tembo then introduced teenager Luke Le Roux in the 75th minute in the place of veteran midfielder Reneilwe Letsholonyane. The former University of Pretoria completed his brace in the 82nd minute after he connected well with a Furman cross.
In an attempt to close shop, Tembo brought on Nigerian defender Azubuike Egwuekwe for Mnyamane.
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