UNITED STUN SUNDOWNS WITH LATE WINNER
5 March, 2022

Maritzburg United made it a night to remember at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Saturday following their 2-1 DStv Premiership win over defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns.

The Team of Choice did it the hard way, coming back from a goal down to secure victory through an Alfred Ndengane header and a Amadou Soukouna penalty in the 92nd minute.

Sundowns had enjoyed the bulk of the first half scoring chances and took the lead in the 23rd minute when Peter Shalulile expertly glanced home Haashim Domingo's cross.

United had a half chance to equalise when Friday Samu got onto Daylon Claasen's low cross, but he was unable to control the shot.

Maritzburg were however back on level term in the 39th minute when Ndengane scored for the second week running, powering in a header from a Keagan Ritchie corner. The centre-back was however hurt in the process and was substituted at the half-time break.

Another Maritzburg defender, Nazeer Allie, then twice came to his side's rescue after the restart by brilliantly clearing shots by Lesedi Kapinga and Shalulile off his own goal line.

More chances followed for Downs as Themba Zwane fired wide after a mazy run and Thabiso Kutumela had a shot deflected.

Allie was then unfortunate to concede a handball in his own box, seemingly unaware of where the ball had been after a deflection, but nevertheless, a penalty was awarded in the 83rd minute.

The score-line remained unchanged though as Marcel Engelhardt did superbly to claw Zwane's spot kick away from the net.

After Kutumela missed a close-range shot on his old home ground, Maritzburg were awarded a penalty of their own after Soukouna was ruled to have been tripped in the visitors’ box by Kennedy Mweene.

The Team of Choice marksman picked himself up to convert the spot-kick clinically to hand Maritzburg rare league win over the Tshwane giants.

STARTING XI: Engelhardt, Claasen, Daniels, Allie, Ndengane, Ntshangase (C), Lukhubeni, Ritchie, Ismail, Samu and Macheke

SUBS: Petersen, Human, Bhengu, Palace, Baloyi, Njoti, Skelem, Soukouna and Kewuti.