Maritzburg secure hard fought win over AmaZulu

by Staff Reporter

Friday Mar 01, 2019. 22:19

Maritzburg United edged out AmaZulu FC 2-1 in an Absa Premiership match at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Friday night.

Despite the win, Team of Choice remained 16th on the league table, while Usuthu also remained 11th on the log.

The Team of Choice threatened first through former Orlando Pirates striker Thabiso Kutumela a few minutes into the game.

The diminutive forward's effort from a free-kick narrowly missed the target as the hosts looked to break the deadlock.

Maritzburg looked dangerous from set-pieces and Kutumela hit the crossbar in the 24th minute with AmaZulu goalkeeper Siyabonga Mbatha well-beaten.

The hosts piled pressure on AmaZulu and Mbatha had to make a smart save to deny Yannick Zakri on the half-hour mark.

With the half-time break approaching, Usuthu pushed for the opening goal and they managed to break the deadlock through an own-goal.

Bandile Shandu headed the ball into his own net at the far-post to make it 1-0 to AmaZulu heading into the half-time break.

The hosts created chances after the restart, but they were wasteful as Frank Makaringe missed the target with a header.

Maritzburg coach Eric Tinkler then made a substitution - pulling out Kutumela and he introduced Alan Kateregga in the 70th minute.

The Ugandan midfielder proved to be an inspired substitution as his free-kick was bundled home by Makaringe to make it 1-1 with 15 minutes left.

The Team of Choice then pushed for the winning goal in the dying minutes of the game and they did score in stoppage time.

Second-half substitute Judas Moseamedi scored with a first-time effort to seal Mariztburg's 2-1 victory in the KwaZulu-Natal Derby.

Maritzburg (0) 2 (Makaringe 75', Moseamedi 90'+2)
AmaZulu (1) 1 (Shandu 45')

Maritzburg: Ofori, Kunene, Xulu, Allie, Sanoka, Makaringe (Mokate 89'), Timm, Kutumela (Kateregga 70'), Ndlovu, Zakri (Moseamedi 56'), Shandu.

AmaZulu: Mbatha, M.Gumede, Mabaliso, Van Heerden, Gumede, Darpoh, Morton, Vilakazi, Chawapiwa (Ncube 87'), Ncobeni (Sithebe 66'), Ntuli