Absa Premiership
Result: Maritzburg United 0-0 Platinum Stars
Date: 10 May 2017
Venue: Harry Gwala Stadium
Maritzburg United and Platinum Stars could not be separated, as they played out a 0-0 draw at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Kurt Lentjies forced Mbongeni Mzimela into a great save in the first minute of the match with a curling shot following a quick attack.
Andrea Fileccia had a great chance to put Team of Choice in the lead after 16 minutes, but he fired over the crossbar after being put through on goal with the goalkeeper Mzimela well beaten.
Dikwena started to get into the game in the 29th minute as Henrico Botes saw his curling shot goes slightly over the bar after a good inter-play from the midfield.
While Lentjies went close to grabbing the lead with a beautiful curling free-kick but Mzimela tipped it over the bar a few moments later.
Nonetheless, the match went into the break logged at 0-0.
With the hosts struggling, Fadlu Davids made a double substitution in the at he start of the second half, bringing in Evans Rusike for Fileccia and Mohau Mokate replacing Bandile Shandu.
The substitutions seemed to have had the desired impact as Davids' charges started to grow into the game and got into the second gear.
Both sides were then reduced to 10 men in the 67th minute, as Kwanda Mngonyama and Khukekani Madondo were both sent off following an altercation.
Maritzburg's Evans Rusike got his first real chance of the game in the 77th minute but Mzimela produced a great save to deny the striker from close range.
Although Botes had a chance to steal three points for Stars in the 86th minute, but his header sailed narrowly over the crossbar, as the sides were forced to settle for a point.
Here's how they lined up:
Maritzburg: 30. Vries, 16. Fransman, 5. Weidlich, 45. Mngonyama, 13. Makaringe, 9. Fileccia (Rusike 46'), 37. Ndlovu, 26. Shandu (Mokate 46', 15. Maboe, 29. Lentjies, 28. Mekoa.
P Stars: 31. Mzimela, 18. De Jongh, 26. Mwedihanga, 5. Sithole, 27. Mphahlele, 4. Madondo, 12. Mathe, 2. Mere, 35. Phiri (Gwabeni 81'), 9. Botes, 24. Ntuli.
P Stars: 31. Mzimela, 18. De Jongh, 26. Mwedihanga, 5. Sithole, 27. Mphahlele, 4. Madondo, 12. Mathe, 2. Mere, 35. Phiri (Gwabeni 81'), 9. Botes, 24. Ntuli.
