Arrows thrash Maritzburg for Komphela

There were contrasting fortunes for two new coaches at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Durban on Sunday as Steve Komphela got his new job off to a winning start with a 2-0 win for Lamontville Golden Arrows over Muhsin Ertugral’s Maritzburg United in their Absa Premiership clash

Maritzburg remain bottom of the table and Ertugral has much work to do, while Arrows are knocking on the door of the top eight after a workmanlike win‚ despite going down to 10 men after Wayde Jooste was dismissed with some 25 minutes remaining.

Komphela was understandably pleased with his side’s showing.

“I can go home and sleep a bit‚” he said at the final whistle.

Ertugral said his side had been caught cold twice with poor defending.

Komphela’s new tenure got off to the perfect start with a goal in 10 minutes as Mutizwa rose between the two Maritzburg centre-backs to head home unchallenged a perfect cross from Danny Venter.

Venter hit a powerful effort on target not long after the goal, but Maritzburg goalkeeper Richard Ofori pulled off a smart save‚ tipping the dipping shot over his crossbar.

Mutizwa was one-on-one with Ofori midway through the half but had his initial effort blocked by the Ghana international and then saw the keeper snatch the ball from under his feet to pull off a good double save.

João Moreira took just a minute to add his name to the scoresheet – his first PSL goal.

Arrows went down to 10 men after 65 minutes after a bad studs-up foul by Jooste on Keletso Makgalwa.

Meanwhile, Black Leopards secured a 2-1 win over Limpopo rivals Baroka FC at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Sunday.

The victory took Lidoda Duvha to 12th place on the league standings, while Bakgaga fell to 13th spot on the table.

Lidoda Duvha contained the reigning Telkom Knockout champions in the opening stages of the Limpopo Derby.

Leopards were deservedly leading 2-0 at the interval, having dominated the first half.

Baroka managed to score in the 68th minute when Abdi Banda headed home from a corner-kick to make it 2-1.

Ultimately, Leopards secured a 2-1 win over Baroka. –