Maritzburg United gave a perfect rendition of how not to win a football match when they suffered a 2-0 loss at the hands of visitors Free State Stars at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Friday night, in spite of creating a bucket load of goalscoring chances in the first half.
Kurt Lentjies, Musa Nyatama and Diyio Sibis wasted at least half a dozen clear cut scoring chances between them. As a result, the Team of Choice is looking like hot contenders to face the drop at the end of season.
Stars coach Steve Komphela could not have asked for a better start to this match to implement his game plan. As early as the second minute his team hit the front when Mxolisi Gumede thumped a volley on target from just inside United’s penalty area, Boitumelo Sekgobela provided the cross.
United went in search of the equaliser soon after and could have got their breakthrough in the seventh minute when David Booysens headed Lentjies set-piece on target but Kennedy Mweene was on hand to block the danger.
Mweene was easily the busiest player on the field in the first half as he made a few telling interventions, no more so than in the 14th minute when he got down low to block a Nyatama effort.
United kept up the pressure for the remainder of the half but were just not able to get the breakthrough they were seeking.
Byrone Hendricks header onto the upright from a Lentjies corner was the closest they came to finding the back of Mweene’s net in the entire match.
Mweene capped a sterling performance when he easily slotted a penalty kick, two minutes from the end. — Sapa