Second three-goal SuperSport triumph in five days
SuperSport United triumphed for the second time in five days by outplaying Bidvest Wits 3-0 in Johannesburg Sunday to reach the South African Top 8 Cup semi-finals.
On Wednesday, the club bankrolled by a TV sport network achieved victory by the same score against Orlando Pirates in the second round of the Premiership.
The reward for eliminating Wits is a two-leg semi-final against Pretoria neighbours Mamelodi Sundowns on August 31 or September 1 and September 17 or 18.
Polokwane City and Highlands Park, who pulled off shock away wins Saturday over trophy-holders Cape Town City and Pirates, meet in the other semi-final.
Forward Bradley Grobler, who bagged a brace in the rout of Pirates, broke the deadlock against Wits by firing a loose ball into the net on 56 minutes.
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A Pirates reject, forward Thamsanqa Gabuza, doubled the advantage eight minutes later as he soared unchallenged to head powerfully into the net.
Gabuza netted again two minutes from time, sending Brandon Petersen the wrong way from a penalty awarded for a clumsy foul.
"It is a long time since Gabuza scored twice in a match so congratulations to him," said SuperSport coach and former Zimbabwe captain Kaitano Tembo.
"We had more hunger and desire than Wits and this was due in part to fierce competition within our squad for starting places."
The result confirmed the view of Wits coach Gavin Hunt that his side perform better away in all competitions -- they have won both matches outside Johannesburg this season and lost the two at home.
Clubs who finished first to eighth in the previous league season qualify for the Top 8, which offers a winners-take-all eight million rand ($520,000/470,000 euros) prize.