Sundowns edge out Maritzburg
● Champions Mamelodi Sundowns returned to winning ways after the disappointment of a cup exit in midweek as they edged Maritzburg United 2-1 at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville yesterday but needed a stoppage-time winner from Lyle Lakay to take a fortunate three points.
Lakay had barely been on the pitch when he struck a half volley into the roof of the net a minute into stoppage time just when plucky Maritzburg looked as if they were going to win a deserved and important away point.
Sundowns led at half-time as Gaston Sirino showed composure to turn inside and fire home from close range in the 39th minute.
But Maritzburg were back in the game in the second half from a corner as captain Siyanda Xulu scored and looked to be going home with a morale-boosting draw before conceding at the death.
“Even if we hadn’t won this game I was happy with the fight and a lot of chances we created,” said relieved coach Pitso Mosimane afterwards. “It was much better than Wednesday.”
They had looked flat in going down to SuperSport United in the MTN semifinal on Wednesday but Mosimane made three changes to the line-up.
Sundowns are the only unbeaten side left in the league and have a game in hand as they move into second place.
Maritzburg remain without a win after five games, which will concern Eric Tinkler given the coaching blood spilt by other Premier Soccer League clubs last week.
Maritzburg would have felt they were in with a chance after Sundowns’ midweek exertions, or lack thereof, and employed an attacking press as they looked for counterattacking opportunities.
Thabiso Kutumela’s 13th-minute shot forced an excellent save from Denis Onyango as Maritzburg proved Sundowns’ equal in the early exchanges.
The long throw-ins from Phumlani Ntshangase also caused problems in the Sundowns defence with Mosa Lebusa almost kneeing into his own net in panic.
But after 25 minutes, Sundowns wrested control of the game and chances began to fall, particularly for Jose Ali Meza, making a first league start in more than a year.
Meza had an effort well blocked by goalkeeper Richard Ofori in the 26th minute, another chance in the 37th minute when Ofori almost committed a blunder and again might have scored just before half-time.
A double change for Maritzburg at the break offered a route back into the game for the visitors and they were level 10 minutes later as Daniel Morgan’s perfect left-footed corner was met at the back post by Xulu.