Maritzburg United boosted their survival hopes with a 3-1 victory over KwaZulu-Natal rivals Royal AM on Sunday evening.
DStv Premiership
Result: Maritzburg United 3-1 Royal AM
Date: 15 January 2023
Venue: Harry Gwala Stadium
Maritzburg made two changes from their narrow win over Marumo Gallants, as Tumelo Njoti and Amadou Soukouna were both recalled. Royal AM, on the other hand, were unchanged from the side that beat AmaZulu.
Thwihli Thwahla had a bright start as the likes of Sera and Potsane had good chances and made goalkeeper Renaldo Leaner to work in the early exchanges.
However, Fadlu Davids' charges eventually got into the game and were threatening on counter-attacks, as Soukouna finally broke the deadlock with a strike into the bottom corner after a through ball by Karim Kimvuidi.
The Team of Choice continued to contain Royal AM and look for chances on transitions, as Soukouna struck again on the stroke of halftime with a looping strike to complete his brace.
The visitors had a slow start in the second stanza as Maritzburg looked more confident going forward and Thwihli Thwahla eventually rang the changes, as they reinforced their attack with the introduction of the likes of Mxolisi Macuphu, Ruzaigh Gamildien and Menzi Masuku.
Abram Nteo and Khabo Zondo's troops showed better urgency going forward after that and had chances but they were not precise in front of goal.
As Maritzburg weathered the storm in the closing stages, Davids did not take any chances, as he made a double defensive change in the last quarter of an hour that saw Alfred Ndengane and Brandon Theron enter the fray to lock the game.
Royal AM had the momentum in the dying minutes but they lost their structure, as Friday Samu got the third goal for the Team of Choice in stoppage time against the run of play.
With ten minutes of stoppage time added on, Royal AM found a consolation goal through Mfundo Thikazi with a low strike from a tight angle, but Martitzburg had done enough to hold on for a second straight win.
Maritzburg moved off the bottom of the log up to 15th, with the same number of points as two other teams above them, Swallows and Stellenbosch.
Here's how they lined up:
Maritzburg United: 32. Learner, 5. Makume, 23. De Goede, 23. Moloisane, 6. Graham, 45. Jooste, 10. Human, 24. Bhengu, 12. Njoti, 11. Soukouna, 26. Karim
Subs: 31. Ndlovu, 14. Meza, 4. Hlongwa, 16. Ritchie, 22. Theron, 27. Ndengane, 20. Samu, 7. Van der Ross, 28. Palace.
Royal AM: 16. Nyame, 3. Nascimento, 14. Matlaba, 22. Rikhotso, 6. Kobedi, 40. Cele, 23. Ndlovu, 12. Mahlasela, 11. Potsane, 7. Pelembe, 33. Sera
Subs: 32. Ngcobo, 17. Mogaila, 13. Manganyi, 38. Mashiane, 34. Thikazi, 9. Macuphu, 50. Masuku, 30. Gamildien, 5. Dlamini
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