Maritzburg United get a head start to win
MOHAU Mokate struck late in the second half as Maritzburg United climbed into the top half of the Premiership table with a 2-1 win over Platinum Stars in Phokeng yesterday.
The visitors dominated the entire match, surging forward on attack, and while the hosts fought back at the death, Maritzburg held their composure to bag all three points.
Taking complete control in the opening period, Ryan de Jongh had the first real chance for United in the 11th minute, but his attempt was tipped over the crossbar by Stars goalkeeper Kabelo Dambe.
Two minutes later, Kurt Lentjies directed a header straight at the shot stopper as Maritzburg continued to place their opponents under tremendous pressure.
Not long before the half-hour mark, Deolin Mekoa put the visiting side in front, finishing off some impressive team work by turning in the box and hitting the back of the net.
Mondli Cele nearly extended the lead for Maritzburg before the break, but he fired well wide to the right.
Making full use of a rare chance for the hosts, Ndumiso Mabena sliced in a cross with a few minutes left in regulation time to bury the equaliser.
Mokate cancelled out the goal just three minutes later, however, tapping the ball in from close range.
The visitors nearly snatched a point in the dying stages, but two impressive attempts by Eleazar Rodgers were denied by Maritzburg keeper Virgil Vries in second-half injury time.
“It was vital for us to score first, and once we did that you could see the confidence grow within the team,” said Lentjies, the man of the match. “This is an important victory for us.”
Meanwhile, AmaZulu would have welcomed that result for their neighbours because it ensures that Platinum can be overtaken as Usuthu attempt to avoid relegation.
Courtesy of the Nedbank Cup and the Fifa international weekend, AmaZulu are inactive for three weeks after they drew 1-1 at Chippa United at the weekend.
However, they will be keen observers of the midweek round of league games, particularly the Soweto derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Moroka Swallows.
AmaZulu will hope that the Amakhosi recover from their double defeat in KwaZulu-Natal and get the better of Swallows, who are five points ahead of the Durban side.
Chiefs twice lost 1-0 in KZN last week. They first slipped up against Maritzburg United in the domestic league and then stumbled against Moroccan visitors Raja Casablanca in the CAF African Champions League first-round game in Durban on Saturday. It was their third successive outing in which they failed to score, starting with the other Soweto derby, a goalless result against Orlando Pirates last weekend.
Victory for Chiefs will prevent Swallows from extending their lead over the Durban basement team.
AmaZulu were lucky that Mpumalanga Black Aces beat Swallows 2-1 on Saturday. That result took Usuthu a point closer to their rivals after their 1-1 draw in Port Elizabeth on Friday night.
With seven matches left to play, AmaZulu have more than a fair chance of catching up with the Birds, as well as Free State Stars, who are also five points ahead. – Sapa