MARITZBURG STUN ARROWS IN TOUGH KZN DERBY
21 January 2023
Maritzburg United fought hard to secure an injury-time goal to beat Golden Arrows 1-0 in a KwaZulu-Natal DStv Premiership derby at the Princess Magogo Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Team of Choice played some enterprising football in the first half and could have taken the lead in the 11th minute when Karim Kimvuidi and Soukouna combined to set up Wayde Jooste, but he dragged his shot wide of the left-hand upright.
Three minutes later and Soukouna was unlucky not to score himself when his snap shot from just inside the box was deflected inches wide of the target.
Arrows had a good chance in the 29th minute when Pule Mmodi pulled the trigger with a volley, but Maritzburg keeper Renaldo Leaner made a stunning save to claw the ball away from the top corner.
At the other end, Reagan van der Ross went close for United when his dipping drive from 25-yards skidded just wide of the post.
The home side put Maritzburg under pressure after the restart and it took a brilliant tackle from Brian Hlongwa to deny Knox Mutizwa.
Mmodi also went close with a curling shot before Divine Lunga missed a back-post header and then Leaner made another couple of breathtaking saves to keep out Velemseni Ndwandwe on two separate occasions.
United were unlucky not to win it late on when Genino Palace curled a lovely effort into the wodwork from outside the box.
Instead though it was left to Jose Meza, who powered down the left flank before firing in a brilliant low shot into the far corner in the 93rd minute.
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