Maritzburg United secured promotion to the Premier League — and the pot of gold that goes with it — following a 2-0 second-leg win over FC AK at the rain-soaked Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday afternoon.
Nippy Fadlu Davids not only provided both second-half goals on a slippery pitch affected by heavy pre-match rain, but he was also the scorer of the equalising goal in the 1-1 first-leg draw of the
national first division final at Eldorado Park earlier in the week.
However, the embattled, under-pressure FC AK, who were found guilty after being charged in a high-profile bribery case and almost booted out of the promotion stakes, still have a chance of earning promotion to the Premier League via a four-team play-off in which they will initially face Dynamos FC.
After an opening period dominated by the KwaZulu-Natal club, United opened the score in the 63rd minute through a pin-point header from Davids following an equally precise cross from the industrious Peter Peterson.
United’s second goal was the product of another clinical effort from Davids after FC AK defender Elie Namaseb had conceded a penalty with a crunching tackle.
It was a moment of unrestrained joy for United coach Ian Palmer and his players, with their second entry into the Premier League surely a great deal more satisfying than the previous occasion when they bought a senior division status — only to be relegated soon afterwards.
There was little doubt that the more deserving team over the two legs had earned a place in a lucrative competition which ensures R1-million a month from the PSL.
Ironically, however, it was FC AK who had the ball in the net first on Sunday when Mark McVeigh fired in a close-range shot through a packed goalmouth.
But referee Ace Ncobo rightly disallowed the goal after the ball had previously gone out of play by a whisker. – Sapa