ABSA Premiership

Result: Maritzburg United 1-2 Platinum Stars

Date: 8 November 2013

Venue: Harry Gwala Stadium

Platinum Stars beat Maritzburg United 2-1 at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Friday night, their first away win this season in the league, thanks to a last minute goal from Tintswalo Tshabalala.

The win takes Dikwena up into second spot on the log, but they still trail Mamelodi Sundowns, who have played two games fewer, by one point.

The Team of Choice will be disappointed to have lost this game, especially goalkeeper Shu-aib Walters, who made some terrific saves throughout the match to keep his team in the fight, only to concede in the last minute of normal time.

Man of the match Henrico Botes grabbed an early goal for Dikwena, before an Issa Sarr own goal brought Maritzburg back into it in the second half.

In the eighth minute Robert Ng'ambi had a good chance for Stars after being played in by Mogakolodi Ngele, but Ng'ambi missed from infront of goal, as he skied his shot.

Ryan De Jongh went on a good run for Maritzburg two minutes later, and cut inside to shoot, but Issa Sarr was able to deflect it out for a corner.

In the 12th minute Ngele tried a shot from just outside the area, but it just went too high.

Stars went into a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute when Henrico Botes went on a good run into the box to get on the end of a Ng'ambi pass. Botes made no mistake with his first time left-footed shot, and put Dikwena into the lead.

In the 22nd minute Stars came close to doubling their lead, but Shu-aib Walters made a great save to stop Lindokuhle Mbatha's shot from inside the box.

A minute later Thokozani Sekotlong had a good chance at the near post for Maritzburg, but Siyabonga Mpontshane pulled off a good one-handed save to deflect it out.

In the 25th minute Botes laid it back to Ngele, but his shot from outside the area went wide.

On the half hour mark Terrance Mandaza ran into the box but his shot from just left of the goal was never on target and hit the side-netting..

In the 39th minute Walters had to make three saves in a row, as he first punched clear from a corner, then saved at close range, as Botes found himself with the ball with just the keeper to beat. Walters then punched the ball away to safety, as Ngele delivered in another attempt.

In the 41st minute young Ghanaian Frank Sarfo Gyamfi tried a shot from just outside the area, but his shot was saved by Mpontshane.

At half-time Dikwena led 1-0 away, but it could have been more, if not for the goalkeeping of Walters.

Maritzburg got themselves back in the game in the 58th minute when Mohammad Awal rose well with Issa Sarr at a corner, and Sarr nodded the ball into his own net to make it 1-1.

In the 60th minute it looked like Ng'ambi was going to score, but once again Walters pulled off a great save, rushing and saving with his legs, to keep the score 1-1.

In the 67th minute substitute Orlando Smeekes went on a strong run down the left, before he squared the ball across goal. Ryan De Jongh picked it up on the right, but his first-time shot went wide and high.

A minute later, just before being subbed, Ng'ambi had another chance in front of goal, but he pulled his shot wide to the right.

Botes tried to score from forty yards out in the 75th minute but it sailed wide.

Two minutes later substitute Delron Buckley sent Smeekes away on another run down the left, and he sent in a good cross which Mandaza headed well, but Mpontshane made a good save to tip it over.

In the 88th minute Smeekes went on another good run, dribbling all the way into the box, but his final effort was deflected out for a corner.

Two minutes later, in the 90th minute, Tintswalo Tshabalala grabbed the winner after being set up by Botes. Tshabalala was able to slip the ball under Walters from close range to make it 2-1.

How They Started:

Maritzburg United: Shu-Aib Walters,Rhys Evans, Thabang Matuka, Mario Booysen, Mohammed Awal, Michael Morton, Ryan De Jongh, Philani Zulu, Frank Sarfo Gyamfi,Thokozani Sekotlong, Terrance Mandaza

Platinum Stars: Siyabonga Mpontshane, Vuyo Mere, Tshepo Gumede, Benson Mhlongo, Luvolwethu Mpeta, Issa Sarr, Robert Ng'ambi, Mogakolodi Ngele, Lindokuhle Mbatha, Tintswalo Tshabalala, Henrico Botes
 

Read: Maritzburg Utd v P Stars In Numbers

Read: Malokase: We Want Three Points

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Check: The ABSA Premiership Results

Check: The ABSA Premiership Table

By: Soccer-Laduma

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