Iqraam Rayners Cancels Out Bradley Grobler’s Opener and Keegan Allan Sees Red on Debut

Iqraam Rayners Cancels Out Bradley Grobler’s Opener and Keegan Allan Sees Red on Debut

Jarryd Westerdale
February 16, 2024 at 7:47 PM
In this article:
Supersport United logo
Supersport United
South Africa
21
Stellenbosch FC logo
Stellenbosch FC
South Africa
38
Iqraam Rayners logo
I. Rayners
Stellenbosch FC logoFSouth Africa logo
Bradley Grobler logo
B. Grobler
Supersport United logoFSouth Africa logo
keegan allan logo
keegan allan
Pretoria Univ logo--
  • Iqraam Rayners scored a poachers goal to earn Stellenbosch a draw in Atteridgeville
  • SuperSport United failed to keep a clean sheet for the 15th match in all competitions
  • Shandre Campbell was again influential, providing the assist for Bradley Grobler's opener

SuperSport United and Stellenbosch FC resumed their DStv Premiership campaign with a draw.

Gavin Hunt's Matsatsantsa again threw away a lead as a possibly offside Iqraam Rayners cancelled out Bradley Grobler's excellent header.

Hunt handed Keegan Allan a debut start as Siyanda Xulu was given more time to recover from his AFCON exploits.

Iqraam Rayners, Stellenbosch FC, Bradley Grobler, Keegan Allan, SuperSport United.
Iqraam Rayner and Stellenbosch FC celebrating after they grabbed an equaliser at Lucas Moripe Stadium. Photo: @StellenboschFC.
Source: Twitter

Shandre Campbell was Matsatsantsa's main threat down the left in the opening exchanges, getting two crosses in early

Iqraam Rayners was the primary target for Stellies and the match's first flashpoint came in the 15th minute when Allan clumsily dealt with a long ball aimed for Rayners.

The Maroons's striker drove into the box with Allan on his heels, who did just enough to put him off. Supersport fluffed several chances to clear and a forceful backpass had Washington Arubi in two minds, but the visitors eventually let the chance slip.

Stellies would soon be sliced open by Campbell who, given too much space, provided an arrowed cross that was sweetly connected by Bradley Grobler for his fifth headed goal of the season.

Stellenbosch were playing uncharacteristically direct, hitting long balls at every opportunity. On the one first-half occasion where they did keep the ball on the floor, they moved it smartly up the field before Anicet Oura wasted the shot from the edge of the box.

SuperSport went into the break with a 1-0 lead and they almost made it two on 53 minutes. Grant Margeman took a quick free-kick which found Onismor Bhasera's head and then Sage Stephen's right post.

SuperSport's inability to keep a clean sheet was exposed minutes later. Rayners pounced on a scuffed shot and calmly dinked it past Arubi for a 56th-minute equaliser.

Despite both coaches throwing on attacking subs, there were no more clear-cut chances and the teams shared the spoils, 1-1.

Injury-time had one final moment to offer with Allan receiving a second yellow - the debutant leaving the field visibly distraught.

Iqraam Rayners focused on future

Sports Brief recently reported on Iqraam Rayners putting his AFCON disappointment behind him.

The Stellenbosh FC striker hopes to force his way into Hugo Broos' Bafana Bafana plans by June.

The 28-year-old scored his sixth goal of the DStv Premiership campaign against SuperSport United.

Authors
Jarryd Westerdale photo
Jarryd Westerdale
Jarryd Westerdale (based in Johannesburg) joined Sports Brief after four years in the community journalism sphere. He is a two-time Alet Roux Award winner and was a finalist in multiple categories at the Forum of Community Journalism Excellence Awards.