A second half fire storm from Maritzburg United saw them beat Sekhukhune United 2-1 in a Nedbank Cup round of 32 match at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Friday.
The lower division team started brightly and had the first effort on goal in the ninth minute, but Thabo Motlafi saw his stinging shot from the edge of the box well-saved by the Martizburg keeper.
The home side quickly responded with a shot on goal of their own when Keagan Buchanan unleashed a 20-yard thunderbolt, but his effort skimmed the wrong side of the post.
Sekhukhune, though, were not deterred and continued to push forward. They came close to finding the opening goal just after the hour mark when Sibusiso Mbonani met a cross with a strong header, but his 12-yard effort went inches wide.
Despite a rather entertaining first half neither side could break the deadlock before the break and entered the tunnel at 0-0.
Maritzburg made host of substitutions at halftime and came into the second stanza a renewed side.
It took the home team only two minutes after the restart to take the lead when Tebogo Tlolane produced a clinical finish from just inside the box to make it 1-0.
Maritzburg kept up the pressure and were rewarded with their second goal in the 70th minute after a well-worked move conclude with substitute Sibusiso Hlubi finding the back of the net, 2-0.
Sekhukhune tried to find their way back into the much but struggled to break down a stubborn Maritzburg defence.
The away goal did manage to find some consolation in the 91st minute thanks to a goal from Sibusiso Mbonani, but it was too little too late as the game ended 2-1 in favour of the KZN team.
Maritzburg United (0) 2 (Tlolane 47’, Hlubi 70’)
Sekhukhune United (0) 1 (Mbonani 91’)© Backpage TXT.
SOURCED FROM THE PSL WEBSITE.
