Staff Reporter.
Maritzburg United kept their DStv Premiership hopes alive going into the final round after they beat Stellenbosch 1-0 at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Amadou Soukouna was the hero for Fadlu Davids’ side as his eighth goal of the season handed them a first win since April 2, which took them level on 29 points with Chippa United (15th) and Marumo Gallants (14th).
The Maroons find themselves in a four-way tie with Sekhukhune United (7th), Golden Arrows (8th) and Swallows (9th) on 37 points, with a superior goal difference keeping them above the trio in sixth place.
Maritzburg came into the clash on the back of a 2-2 draw with Marumo Gallants which extended their winless run in the league to four games, while Stellenbosch were looking to keep the momentum after a 0-0 stalemate against SuperSport United made it three matches unbeaten.
The hosts had the lion’s share of the possession in the first half but struggled to make inroads into the final third as the war was mostly waged in the middle of the park.
After a quiet opening in Pietermaritzburg, Stellies had the first sniff at goal on 16 minutes when Dean van Rooyen found Fawaaz Basadien on the left and the defender lined up a shot from range that sailed wide of the right post.
The visitors threatened again two minutes later as Van Rooyen found himself in an advanced position inside the box on the right after combining with Devon Titus but he failed to keep his shot down.
However, chances were at a premium in the fierce battle for midfield supremacy and Maritzburg failed to carve out any openings before they hit the front in the 40th minute.
Karim Kimvuidi launched a hopeful long ball forward and Rowan Human managed to flick it on for Soukouna, who lashed his shot past Sage Stephens from inside the box to give the Team of Choice a priceless lead at the break.
The possession stakes were more evenly matched in the second half as the Maroons started to find their rhythm and Iqraam Rayners looked for an early response when he tested Renaldo Leaner with a low effort from the left side of the box after being played in by Basadien.
Stephens was then called into action on 63 minutes to keep out Genino Palace’s header, while Andre De Jong just failed to convert a 68th-minute free-kick with his head as the ball flew inches wide of the left post.
Tumelo Njoti nearly doubled Maritzburg’s lead moments later when he connected with Kimvuidi’s cross, although Stephens was relieved to see his header go narrowly wide of the right post.
There would be no repeat of the drama that unfolded against Gallants, however, as the KZN outfit saw out the remainder of the match to claim a vital three points.
Meanwhile the threat of relegation still looms large for Chippa United after they suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat to TS Galaxy at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Elsewhere Cape Town City overcame a spirited Richards Bay outfit in the DStv Premiership on Saturday afternoon, as Khanyisa Mayo inspired his side to a 2-0 win at Athlone stadium.