Schoolboy stuff as United pip Dynamos

Super Stadium, Atteridgeville

SuperSport United (1) 2

Gaxa 9, Ndlela 52

Dynamos (0) 1

Mbambo 81

It was a schoolboy-like display by these Premier Soccer League teams - in their first game of the season - on Saturday. This game was characterised by countless errors by the players. Referee Paulo Marques and one of his assistants, Cassien Barlow, did not cover themselves in glory either.

Despite other wrong calls, Marques and Barlow at times contradicted each other in interpreting the new off-side rule which clearly states that the attacking player can only be judged when he touches the ball.

This contradiction went a long way towards gifting SuperSport the opening goal. For the left-footed midfielder Siboniso Gaxa was clearly off-side when he caught Dynamos on the blind side after breaking away to tap in the opening goal in the ninth minute.

Dynamos were unlucky not to equalise when young midfielder and substitute Klaas Galane's effort ricocheted off the upright three minutes after the restart.

United's defence of tall players like captain Ricardo Katza and Phil Evans somehow failed to deal with Innocent Mahlambi's cross.

United increased their lead a few minutes before the hour-mark when Gaxa outsprinted Dynamos defender Isaac Leshabane before sending a dipping cross that was finished off by the unmarked Lungisane Ndlela.

United could have increased their lead minutes later when the normally reliable Phil Evans missed from the penalty spot. As the game drew to a close, United's defence lost composure. They were punished in the 81st minute when substitute Mhloniswa Mbambo scored.