MARITZBURG FIGHT BACK FOR SEKHUKHUNE DRAW
16 March, 2022

Maritzburg United and Sekhukhune United played to a lively 1-1 DStv Premiership draw at Ellis Park on Wednesday evening.

It was a game in which both sides had several good scoring chances, and the tone was set with only a minute on the clock as the hosts took the lead after Maritzburg keeper Marcel Engelhardt failed to hang onto a long range shot from Roderick Kabwe.

The Team of Choice were almost back on level terms in the eighth minute when Keagan Ritchie cut into the box on a strong run from the left and unleashed a powerful shot towards the top corner, only to be brilliantly denied by Sekhukhune keeper Toaster Nsabata.

There was however to be no stopping Ritchie when he sensationally equalised two minutes before interval with a sweetly struck half-volley, the left-back showing wonderful technique after the ball had been flicked into him on the edge of the box by Tawanda Macheke.

The hosts came out fighting after the interval and had chances as Justin Shonga fired over the bar before Engelhardt made an excellent save to keep out Kabwe’s dipping free-kick in the 58th minute.

Kabwe also had a long range shot go over, while at the other end, a slick Maritzburg attack ended with Macheke curling his shot over the bar.

The Team of Choice were desperately unlucky not to grab a 93rd minute winner when Ritchie’s free-kick was deflected just a foot wide of the upright with Nsabata going the other way.

It was still a point on the road as head coach Ernst Middendorp and his men prepare the next one – against Swallows FC on April 2.