Dream start ends as a nightmare
ANOTHER game, another defeat for Maritzburg United as their losing run stretched to eight games with a 3-2 defeat against Polokwane City at the Harry Gwala Stadium last night.
Two flat teams struggled to flatten each other as the opening half produced a goal at each end, before three late strikes made for a see-saw finish in favour of the visitors.
Maritzburg’s dream start with the lead in the second minute from Mohammed Anas turned into a nightmare as the visitors, nicknamed “Rise and Shine”, rose and shone to edge the half in terms of finding the target.
By the 11th minute Polokwane were level. Midfielder Jabulani Nene chested the ball for unmarked winger Thobani Mncwango to stroke it past goalkeeper Tawfeeq Salie.
Returning to the line-up after sitting out two games because of injury, Salie twice denied Polokwane from deadball situations. In the 20th minute, Durban-born striker Siphesihle Nzimande’s freekick scorched the turf and stung Salie’s gloves on the way to a corner.
Fifteen minutes later winger Jabulani Maluleke tried his luck from closer range, and again Salie was on point as he tipped the ball over.
The goals were a refreshing change after the teams had fired blanks in recent games. Until last night the Team of Choice hadn’t scored at home since a 2-1 Telkom Knockout cup win over Jomo Cosmos in early October.
They had to go as far back as September for their last home league goal. Polokwane’s goal drought stretched to September 12.
While the goalmouth action kept the home brass band churning out the tunes, the defensive play was poor as both sides threw possession away like a cheap lucky packet trinket.
Some clumsy challenges also earned defender Tamsanqa Teyise and midfielder Mphakamiseni Nene yellow cards.
At the death, Kenyan defender Brian Onyango spoilt his night when he conceded the free-kick that led to the winner.
The erratic play filtered through to the attack, too, as the usually reliable Kurt Lentjies also drifted out of the game midway through the second half.
The playmaker blazed over a shot in the 68th minute when a more composed finish was required.
He made amends when he smoothly finished off a square pass from substitute midfielder Mondli Cele in the 84th minute, but the visitors hit back with a free-kick from Maluleke two minutes later, and poached the winner via Puleng Tlolane in optional time.
The Team of Choice remain the only winless team in the league.