Posted in News on Dec 05, 2001.
villain of the evening as Amakhosi crashed to a shock 3-2 defeat at the hands of a fired up SuperSport United at a soaking Ellis Park on Wednesday night.
Chiefs led 2-1 at half-time.
The diminutive midfield maestro showed his incredible class by scoring two stunning first half goals but ruined his performance for getting a red card in the 80th minute after an off the ball foul on Peter Khoboane which resulted in referee Ace Ngcobo sending Pule for an early shower.
He shot Chiefs into the lead after 15 minutes with a spectacular effort from the edge of the penalty area. His second goal was out of the top drawer in the 41st minute when he rifled home a 35 metre rocket that gave 'keeper Michael Utting no chance.
In between a foul by Chiefs defender Nhlanhla Kubeka on Raymond Seopa inside the penalty area earned United a penalty in the 30th minute which David Notoane converted to level the score.
But then Pule stuck four minutes from the break to regain the
lead for the home side.
Chiefs seemed to lose their way in the second half and it was
United striker Patrick Mayo who beat substitute defender Cyril
Nzama to a Seopa cross to bring the score level again in the 57th minute.
The setback rocked Amakhosi who had won two major cups in the past two weekends - the Coca-Cola and African Cup Winners Cup and those yeoman efforts seemed to take their toll on the depleted Chiefs.
The killer punch came in the 78th minute when Seopa made it 3-2 after he connected a pass from substitute Thulani Mahlangu.
Two minutes later Pule wrecked his night's work by getting send off and will now miss the next three matches.
Chiefs coach Muhsin Ertugral complimented SuperSport and said that he expected more tough games like this in the coming weeks and months.
"We're mentally tired but take nothing away from United they really played well," he said.
The win propels United into third spot with 24 points and has underlined the fact that no team can be take for granted.
