Highlands fight back for draw against Maritzburg

by Brian Lee

Friday Nov 09, 2018. 22:18

Highlands Park fought back from behind twice to earn a share of the spoils in a 2-2 draw against Maritzburg United in an Absa Premiership match at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Friday night.

The first effort on goal came as early as the third minute when Fortune Makaringe tried his luck from the edge of the box, but his shot went inches over the Highlands goal.

The visiting side were the next to attack in the 20th minute when Tendai Ndoro worked his way into the box, but his stinging shot from 14-yards out was well-saved by the Maritzburg keeper.

Three minutes later the home side took the lead after some swift play in the Highlands half saw Yannick Zakri find space inside the box and he made no mistake with just the keeper to beat, 1-0.

Maritzburg almost doubled their lead in the 35th minute when a 18-yard shot from Siphesihle Ndlovu deflected inches wide of the target.

Highlands applied pressure on the Maritzburg goal towards the end of the half, but could not find an equalising goal before half time.

A minute into the second half, however, and the visiting side did level matters when a deflected shot from the edge of the box by Lindokuhle Mbatha wrong footed the keeper and found the back of the net, 1-1.

Maritzburg, though, quickly restored their lead in the 51st minute when Deolin Mekoa headed home a corner-kick at the near post, 2-1.

Highlands were not going to go down without a fight and equalised for the second time when Mothobi Mvala superbly headed home a cross from Luckyboy Mokoena in the 70th minute, 2-2.

Both teams threw players forward in the final ten minutes, but neither could find the back of the net as the game ended all-square.

Maritzburg (1) 2 (Zakri 23’, Mokate 51’)
Highlands (0) 2 (Mbatha 46’, Mvala 79’)

Team:

Maritzburg: Ofori, Kunene (Fileccia 79’), Xulu, Figareido (Shandu 58’), Allie, Mekoa, Sanoka (Makgalwa 90’), Makaringe, Zakri, Ndlovu, Mokate.

Highlands: Kapini, Sibande, Msimango, Mokoena, Ramoraka, Mvala, Mbatha, Haoseb, Makudubela (Seema 63’), Shalulile (Motlafi 90’), Ndoro (Sekola 72’).