Rusike dumps Downs from MTN8
MARITZBURG United produced an impressive display to knock Mamelodi Sundowns out of the MTN 8 with a 1-0 win in Atteridgeville yesterday.
The goal that ensured Maritzburg’s place in the semifinals arrived just before the hour mark when Evans Rusike beat Sundowns goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene, following a quick counter after the Brazilians had committed men forward.
Sundowns dominated the possession stakes and attacking chances, but the visitors sat back for most of the game and relied more on catching their hosts on the break.
Those calculated counterattacking moves paid off handsomely and Rusike was able to score the winning goal.
Sundowns were the better team but were often guilty of committing costly errors‚ often giving the ball away easily.
They must improve ahead of their PSL opener against SuperSport United at the weekend.
After a cagey start, largely as a result of the hot weather conditions in Atteridgeville, Twhwane, where both teams tested each other with no real opportunities‚ Maritzburg came the closest to opening the scoring on the half-hour mark.
After a good attacking move‚ Rusike delivered a telling cross from the right wing after he managed to get the better of Tebogo Langerman, but Sheldon van Wyk could not connect the ball.
Sundowns fans went wild after 36 minutes when coach Pitso Mosimane sent new signings Oupa Manyisa and George Lebese to warm-up in preparations for their possible debuts.
Manyisa came on after 72 minutes and Lebese eight minutes later, but they could not influence the result.
On the stroke of half time‚ unmarked Khama Billiat missed a good opportunity to give Sundowns the lead when his closerange shot went away from the target from a good cross by Thapelo Morena.
Five minutes after the restart‚ Sundowns were unlucky not to have taken the lead when a close-range header by Thabo Nthete from a cross by Billiat hit the upright and the Maritzburg defence cleared the danger.
Maritzburg then delivered what proved to be the winner in the 58th minute through Rusike, after a good counter-attack.
Despite being a goal down‚ Sundowns increase the tempo in search an equaliser, but Maritzburg held on well.
ý Holders Bidvest Wits’ bid to hold on to their MTN8 trophy will continue in a tricky away clash at Cape Town City at the end of the month after yesterday’s semifinal draw pitted the two sides against each other.
Wits were the first team to reach the semis after they managed a hard fought 4-3 win on penalties over Golden Arrows in Johannesburg on Friday night.