SuperSport United survived a lengthy break in play to beat Orlando Pirates 1-0 in their 2015/16 Absa Premiership opener at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.
The game resumed on Wednesday, midday, with floodlight failure preventing the conclusion of the match at the scheduled time on Tuesday evening.
Michael Boxall scored the only goal of the game as Matsatsantsa survived a late attack on their goal to secure all three points.
Still beaming following their win over CS Sfaxien at the weekend, Pirates dominated the early exchanges, with Thabo Rakhale and Sifiso Myeni tormenting the SuperSport fullbacks.
Tendai Ndoro had an early chance to open the scoring. After good work by Rakhale down the right, Menzi Masuku set up his strike partner, who blazed his effort well over.
Matsatsantsa's first chance fell to Boxall in the 19th minute. The burly defender snuck ahead of his maker before seeing his glancing header well saved by Brighton Mhlongo.
Having sent out a warning shot moments earlier, Boxall capitalised on poor marking by the Pirates defenders to get on the end of a precise free-kick by David Mathebula to open the scoring in the 22nd minute. The New Zealand international scored with a composed finish on his league debut.
The Buccaneers saw a lot of the ball in the opening stanza, with the wingers trying to feed Ndoro at every occasion, but the Zimbabwean was well shadowed by Denwin Farmer in the heart of the SuperSport defence.
Pirates ended the half strongly, but were unable to test Ronwen Williams in the first 45 as SuperSport entered the break 1-0 up.
SuperSport came out firing after the interval and almost doubled their lead through Brockie in the 51st minute. The in-form forward linked up well with fellow countryman Boxall, but was denied by Happy Jele, whose face stood between the hosts and what looked a certain goal.
Following the lengthy delay, Lehlohonolo Majoro and Felipe Ovono took to the field with Rakhale and Mhlongo injured just before the break in play on Tuesday evening.
Pirates continued to boss possession at the resumption of play with Kermit Erasmus bursting into the area before forcing former teammate Williams into a good save in the 74th minute.
The Sea Robbers threw everything but the kitchen sink in attack, but were met by a determined SuperSport gloves-man, who did well to keep out Erasmus' point-blank effort before holding on to Masuku's rebound shot in stoppage time.
The game finally came to an end with SuperSport running out 1-0 victors.
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