Premier Soccer League Promotion Play-Offs
Result: Maritzburg United 2-1 Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila
Date: 01 June 2019
Venue: Harry Gwala Stadium
Maritzburg United finished the promotion/relegation play-off campaign with a perfect 100% record after defeating Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila on Saturday afternoon.
Read; Official: Maritzburg Retain Absa Premiership Status
The Team of Choice made four changes from their midweek win over Royal, as Bongani Mpandle, Denwin Farmerr, Mohau Mokate and Thabiso Kutumela returned to the line-up. After a lively showing early on, Eric Tinkler's charges were ahead in the 16th minute after Mokate was able to utilise Makaringe's cross with a tidy finish past TTM shot-stopper Tshepo Ramaele, 1-0. The visitors showed fighting spirit going forward and were unlucky not to equalise four minutes later after Onyedikachi Ononogbu's shot was kept out by Mpandle. Chances were few and far between after half-an-hour but Mboniseni Mbandlwa almost sensationally levelled matters for Moma Medic's troops on the stroke of halftime with a curling left-footed strike that sailed inches wide of the crossbar. Wonderboy Makhubu had a glorious chance to level matters for the visitors three minutes inside the second stanza after going clear on the left, but instead of playing across he went for glory and his shot sailed over the crossbar with only Mpandle to beat. Maritzburg were in no rush to go forward after 65 minutes, mainly knocking the ball around in their own half, which saw TTM chase shadows for large periods of the stanza. However, Maritzburg wrapped up the game with 12 minutes remaining as Mokate completed his brace with after he pounced on a mistake by Carlington Nyadombo before side-footing into the bottom corner. Thembisani Nevhulamba reduced the deficit for TTM with two minutes remaining after finding space in the heart of of the Maritzburg defence to dispatch a low shot past Mpandle, but it proved to be nothing more than a consolation as the Team of Choice hung on for a fourth straight win. SLTV: Henry: Why I Left Arsenal For Barcelona… Here's how they line up:Maritzburg: Mpandle, Onyango, Farmer, Ndlovu, De Reuck, Makaringe, Timm, Kutumela, Mokate, Mekoa, Shandu.
Subs: Barr, Katerrega, Matsi, Sanoka, Hlongwane, Zakri, Kunene.
TTM: Ramaele, Meso, Nyadombo, Makgoga, Mokoena ,Ononogbu, Khumalo, Ndlondlo, Mbandlwa, Makhubu, Bhengu.
Subs: Mbanjwa, Chauke, Nkoana, Mashau, Msomi, Mabotja, Nevhulamba.
