5 October 2008 

UNITED DEFEAT AMAZULU


Maritzburg United continued their good start to the season when they beat AmaZulu 2-1 in an Absa Premiership clash at the Hammersdale Stadium on Saturday afternoon.



Elias Ngwepe and Fadlu Davids scored for the Team of Choice, with Pere Ariweriyai scoring for AmaZulu.

AmaZulu created two goal scoring opportunities during the first half, with the first chance arriving in the sixth minute when Bradley Ritson sent a superb cross into the Maritzburg United area, but striker Myron Shongwe shocking header was easily cleared by the United defence.

Ritson was then sent clear in the 14th minute, but the striker slipped just as he was about to shoot and sent his effort well wide of goal.

United created their first chance in the 33rd minute when Sipho Mngomezulu took his shot from an acute angle, but was comfortably saved by Kakonje Kalililo.

At half time the match remained goalless.

Ritson should have put one in the back of the net three minutes after the restart, but sent his effort high over the crossbar from just six yards out.

Maritzburg United took the lead in the 58th minute when Kalililo produced a poor clearance after running to the edge of his goal area, which fell to Mngomezulu, whose shot flew straight into an empty net as the AmaZulu keeper struggled to get back to his goal.

Two minutes later the hosts extended their lead when they were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the Amazulu goal area, with Davids curling the ball around the wall and into the far corner.

AmaZulu then dominated the remainder of the game and deservedly pulled one back in the 83rd minute when Pere Ariweriyai headed home from a corner.

The last chance of the game came from Shongwe who should have leveled matters two minutes from the end, but his tame effort was comfortably collected by United keeper Hunter Gilstrap.

The result moves Maritzburg United up to second place in the log, on eight points from four games, while AmaZulu remains 12th position on 3 points from three games.