Fresh from their success in the MTN8 final against Cape Town City, Eric Tinkler’s men put on a show that will live long in the memory against Club Africain on Sunday night in Rades.
snl24.com/kickoff looks at how Matsatsantsa made it to the final of the Confederation Cup, two years after Orlando Pirates reached that stage.
After drawing 0-0 away from home against Elgeco Plus from Madagascar, Matsatsantsa registered a 2-1 in the return leg. Jeremy Brockie opened the scoring from the spot in the 14th minute, but Elgeco equalised just before the hour mark through Morelin Raveloarisona. Fagrie Lakay’s goal in the 38th minute proved to be the winner as SuperSport progressed to the first round.
In the first round, SuperSport had a trip to Sudan to face Al-Ahli Shendi in the first leg. Mario Booysen and Brockie bagged crucial away goals in a 3-2 defeat and the return leg at Lucas Moripe Stadium was a walk in the park, as they won 4-0 thanks to goals from Tefu Mashamaite, Kingston Nkhatha, Aubrey Modiba and an own goal by Salaheldin Al-Hassan.
They progressed to the play-off round, where they beat Liberia’s Barrack Young Controllers 6-1 on aggregate. They drew 1-1 in the first leg away from home, before a Brockie hat-trick inspired them to a 5-0 win at home in the return leg.
Matsatsantsa finished the group in second place on 10 points, two behind top side TP Mazembe. The Tshwane outfit were unbeaten in their six group matches, winning two and drawing four. Their only win at home was a 4-1 triumph over Gabon’s CF Mounana, as Brockie bagged a brace, while Bradley Grobler and Thabo Mnyamane also got on the score sheet.
Tinkler’s men were drawn to play Zambian side Zesco United, who played Mamelodi Sundowns in last year’s Champions League. The first leg in Atteridgeville finished goalless and then Thuso Phala scored a brace in the second leg. It finished 2-2 and Matsatsantsa progressed to the semi-final.
In the last four, SuperSport were held to a 1-1 draw by Club Africain in the first leg, but a brilliant performance in the second leg saw them winning 3-1, thanks to goals from Grobler (two) and Brockie.