Maritzburg United got their first points of the DStv Premiership season with a 1-0 win over Baroka FC at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday.
DStv Premiership
Result: Baroka 0-1 Maritzburg United
Date: 11 September 2021
Venue: Peter Mokaba Stadium
Maritzburg made a solid start to the game and opened the scoring in the 15th minute when Richard Zumah rounded the keeper and slotted the ball into an empty net after Travis Graham put the striker through on goal.
Ten minutes later, Alfred Ndengane's free kick from deep picked out Bongokuhle Hlongwane on the left but his header from just inside the box was well held by Oscarine Masuluke.
On the stroke of half-time Ndengane gave away a corner to Baroka. Nhlanhla Mgaga delivered a dangerous ball into the box but Decide Chauke somehow fluffed the header wide from close range.
Hlongwane then went from hero to zero when he was shown a second yellow in the 51st minute for a late challenge on Mashweu Mphahlele after his first touch let him down.
Check out Thembinkosi Biyela's dream team below:
Joslyn Kamatuka's attempted cross from the right then caught Marcel Engelhardt off his line and hit the top of the bar and went over as the Maritzburg keeper breathed a sigh of relief.
Soon after, Richard Mbulu curled one in behind the Maritzburg defence and Mgaga almost got on the end of it with a diving header. And then Vusi Sibiya's poked effort was saved by the legs of Engelhardt after the ball had fallen kindly to the Baroka centre-back from a corner.
Thamsanqa Masiya was then sent off in the 84th minute as Baroka also went down to ten men, but Maritzburg were able to shut up shop with a deep block and held on for the three points.
Here's how they started:
Baroka: 30. Masuluke, 2. Mphahlele, 3. Gebhardt, 33. Farmer, 6. Sibiya, 7. Mokhabi, 12. Mgaga, 16. Dlala, 19. Chauke, 28. Monama, 9. Mbulu.
Subs: 1. Chipezeze, 4. Seema, 5. Makume, 8. Goldstone, 10. Phiri Jr, 17. Kambala, 21. Masiya, 18. Shozi, 25. Kamatuka.
Maritzburg: 31. Engelhardt, 42. Rae, 10. Ndengane, 25. Ismail, 8. Kewuti, 6. Graham, 15. Ntshangase, 10. Human, 21. B.Hlongwane, Zumah, Soukouna.
Subs: 1. Petersen, 24. Bhengu, 4. Allie, 22. Theron, 17. Claasen, 7. L.Hlongwane, 19. Skelem.
