Maritzburg claim spoils in KZN derby

Football | Absa Premiership

 

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 Maritzburg United returned to winning ways in the Absa Premiership when they defeated provincial rivals AmaZulu 2-0 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
United took the lead early in the second half through an own-goal from Marc Van Heerden before Thokozani Sekotlong doubled the advantage midway through the half.


Usuthu created the earlier opportunities with Van Heerden pushing forward on the left flank and delivered dangerous cross into the box which caused problems for the visitors.
The left-back tried to find Bongani Ndulula at the near post in the 10th minute but Shu-aib Walters made the clearance; while Ayanda Dlamini just failed to reach his cross at the far post nine minutes later.

Thokozani Sekotlong then collected the ball in the middle of the park and pushed forward on the left in the 23rd minute before unleashing an effort from long range which flew wide of the target.
Usuthu were awarded a freekick just outside the box in the 38th minute as Ndulula was bundled from behind by Mario Booysen; Van Heerden drilled the ball towards the target but Walters dived to his right to turn in around the post.

Both sides would have two late chances to break the deadlock in the 41st minute but Sadney Urikhob failed to find Ndulula inside the box after making a decent run, while Frank Sarfo-Gyamfi’s low show fizzed across goal at the other end.

The opening goal arrived in the second minute of the second half as Van Heerden turned the ball into his own net from close range while attempting to clear an effort from Yakubu Mohammed.
The visitors doubled their lead on the hour mark as Sekotlong broke the offside trap on the left side of the box before beating the approaching Tapuwa Kapini with an exquisite curler into the far post.
Three minutes later Kulegani Madondo was offered space to shoot just outside the penalty area but the midfielder failed to score against his former side, dragging his effort wide of goal.

Mohammed had en effort from a similar range at the other end in the 67th minute and the Ghana international did get his shot on target, forcing Kapini to dive to his left to make the save.

Usuthu pushed forward in an effort to reduce the deficit but Sthembiso Ngcobo’s low effort was stopped by Walters in the 82nd minute, while Goodman Dlamini fired wide wide of the upright four minutes later.
Goodman had another great opportunity to pull one goal back in the 90th minute when he received a pass from Njabulo Manqana in the centre of the box, only for his shot to be deflected over the crossbar by Mohammed Awal.

Yakubu could have made things worse for the home side in the third minute of added time as he skipped past Van Heerden after collecting a pass from Delron Buckley, but he blasted his shot wide of the target.
The result moves the Team of Choice up to sixth place on the table with 11 points, while Usuthu have dropped to seventh with the same number of points.

AmaZulu 0
Maritzburg United (0) 2 (Van Heerden OG 47’, Sekotlong 60’)
Teams:
AmaZulu: Kapini, Mvalo, Mwedihanga (Teyise 80’), Nyadombo, Van Heerden, Madondo, Dlamini G, Manqana, Urikhob (Mthiyane 46’), Dlamini A (Ngcobo 70’), Ndulula
Maritzburg United: Walters, Matuka, Awal, Booysen, Mkhize, De Jongh (Shandu 68’), Evans, Sarfo-Gyamfi (Nkosi 73’), Sheppard (Buckley 79’), Sekotlong, Yakubu