28 January 2008

MARITZBURG UNITED 3-1 BLOEMFONTEIN CELTIC



Maritzburg United have scored a massive boost in their bid to move away from the foot of the table with an emphatic 3-1 win over Bloemfontein Celtic at the Woodburn Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

Fadlu Davids scored a brace for United, with the other goal coming from Tony Tzabedze.

Davids' first goal came after just two minutes, when he finished clinically from six yards out.

Gert Schalkwyk looked to hit back for Celtic, but was either off target or failed to beat United keeper Tashrique Goldman.

Maritzburg scored their second goal in the 22nd minute when Davids converted from the penalty spot after Phunya Sele Sele midfielder Solomon Mathe was red-carded for a foul in th box.

Fanyana Dhladhla nearly added a third in the 30th minute when he got on the end of Peter Petersen's cross, but Shu-Aib Walters produced a great save.

United were then also reduced to 10 men when Davids was given two yellow cards in the space of a minute just before half time.

The visiting side nearly pulled a goal back in the 48th minute when Wellington Sambu met a Moses Spandeel cross at the back post with a well struck shot, but Goldman was up to the challenge pulling off a fine save.

Five minutes later the outstanding Goldman was at it again when he psushed Petros Mahlatsi's six yard shot away from danger.

Tony Tsabedze made sure of the win when he scored Maritzburg's third goal in the 68th minute. A great through ball by Sipho Mngomezulu put Tsabedze in on goal and he made no mistake from the edge of the box firing the ball into the bottom corner.

Mahlatsi scored his side's only goal in the 73rd minute. John Maduka supplied an inch perfect cross from the left that Mahlatsi met with a powerful header giving Goldman no chance in the United goal, 3-1.

The loss for Celtic means that they remain at the bottom of the table while Maritzburg move out of the rlegation zone into 14th spot.

Teams

United: Goldman; Ngwepe, Petersen, Tsabedze, Mkonza, Goldstone, Aka (Kukane 58'), Dhladhla (Mbemba 81'), Arwuah, Mngomezulu, Davids.

Celtic: Walters, Sambu, Nthethe, Batabaire, Mothaping (Nhlapo 26'), Mthombeni (Ramolesa 46'), Maduka, Schalkwyk, Mathe, Mahlatsi, Spandeel (Bartlett 73').