Maritzburg fight back late to hold Students to draw

TEN-MAN Maritzburg United held Bidvest Wits to a 1-1 stalemate in an Absa Premiership game at the Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg last night.

As a result the Team of Choice remain eighth on league table following the stalemate, while the Clever Boys climbed to the top of the log on goal-difference.

Substitute Cuthbert Malajila fired Wits into the lead after being introduced during the break, but Mohau Mokate grabbed a late equalizer for Maritzburg.

The home side threatened first just nine minutes into the league encounter as Bevan Fransman forced Wits goalkeeper Darren Keet into a good save with a shot from range.

Four minutes later, Kurt Lentjies’ corner-kick found his Maritzburg teammate Denis Weidlich and the German central defender headed just over the Wits goal-posts.

Keet denied Lebohang Maboe in the 24th minute as the Team of Choice searched for the opening goal.

With the halftime break fast approaching, Evans Rusike took a good shot, but once again Keet produced a fantastic save to deny him in the 39th minute.

Maritzburg were dealt a major blow on the stroke of halftime as their captain Lentjies was sent off for a studs up challenge on Wits midfielder Phumlani Ntshangase.

With his side having numerical advantage over the Team of Choice, Gavin Hunt made a change 10 minutes after the restart – pulling out a defender Siboniso Gaxa for a winger Elias Pelembe.

Zimbabwe international Malajila was the man who finally broke the deadlock in the 70th minute. The striker hit the back of the net to make it 1-0 to Wits, with Mahlambi grabbing an assist.

But the lead only lasted for four minutes as Mohau Mokate made it 1-1 following a well taken cornerkick by the home side.

Deolin Mekoa had a chance to snatch a late winner for Maritzburg with 11 minutes left, but the midfielder’s attempt was saved by Keet and, ultimately, the match ended in a 1-1 stalemate.

● Platinum Stars held Highlands Park to a 2-2 draw in the teams’ Absa Premiership match at Makhulong Stadium last night.

Dikwena fought back from two goals down to secure a draw against the Lions of the North, though the result doesn’t help either side move decisively clear of the relegation zone at the bottom of the log.

The early minutes of the match were evenly contested, but Stars gradually began to take control of the game and threatened the opening goal just before the midway point of the first half when Siyabonga Zulu sent a shot just over the crossbar direct from a free kick.

On 27 minutes Dikwena were inches away from taking the lead when midfielder Solomon Mathe let fly with a powerful effort from the edge of the box, but the ball rebounded off the crossbar – much to the relief of Highlands goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini.

Yet the hosts claimed the advantage against the run of play just a minute later, with Mothobi Mvala getting on the end of Franklin Cale’s corner kick to score with a header.

And the Lions of the North quickly doubled their lead: Cale was again the architect, providing another fine corner kick for Charlton Mashumba to finish right-footed on the half hour mark for 2-0.

Stars midfielder Robert Ng’ambi provided a fine finish in the 33rd minute to make it 2-1, and on the stroke of half time Benson Shilongo got on the end of a Vuyo Mere assist to take the score to 2-2.

The scoring chances continued to flow for the visitors in the early minutes of the second half, with Henrico Botes heading just over the bar, Shilongo firing wide and Ndumiso Mabena hitting the woodwork with a free kick.

Dikwena continued to look the better team as the minutes ticked by and in the latter stages they created a great chance for Mabena, but the attacker was denied by a fine save from Kapini to ensure the match finished on level terms. — BackpageTXT