By Micheal Madyirha
SuperSport United are out of the CAF Confederation Cup following Sunday’s 1-1 Group A draw with Modern Future at Peter Mokaba Stadium.
The Egyptian visitors went ahead through Ali Zaazaa on 31 minutes before Matsatsantsa replied via Tendamudzimu Matodzi.
Left with one group game, Gavin Hunt’s men will not proceed to the quarter-finals even if they beat USM Alger next Sunday.
They remain bottom of the table with four points from five matches after a shocking starting line-up on Sunday.
Ime Okon surprisingly captained SuperSport as defender Aphiwe Baliti was making his senior team debut, while Matodzi, Selaelo Rasebotja and Yandisa Mfolozi were handed rare starts.
The brace selection by Hunt saw the surprise benching of experienced stars including forward Terrence Dzvukamanja, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Lyle Lakay and Siyanda Xulu.
Veterans Bradley Grobler and experienced defender Onismor Bhasera were out of the team but they benefited from the expertise of Phathutshedzo Nange.
Future were without injured midfielder Kajally Drammeh who is on loan from Cape Town City.
The visitors detected proceedings from the start, testing Matsatsantsa goalkeeper Ricardo Goss after 10 minutes through the boot of Ahmed Atef.
Baliti then made his first interception of the match two minutes later, blocking Ali Yasser while Okon also made a crucial intervention.
Future were then rewarded for their dominance with Zaazaa beating Goss to take the lead after finishing off a feed from Atef.
But Etiosa Ighodaro almost hit back for the home side but headed just wide a cross from Matodzi.
Just after the halftime break, SuperSport nearly equalised through substitute Hlatshwayo whose header was repelled by Future goalkeeper Mahmoud Gennesh.
The Tshwane side appeared to be depending on high balls and it finally paid off with Matodzi heading in a Baliti delivery.
It was a difficult match for Matsatsantsa who could not take a lead until the final whistle.
Pictured above: SuperSport United midfielder Phathutshedzo Nange.
Image source: SuperSport United
