Matchday 14 - Report
Maritzburg Utd 0 - Thanda Royal Zulu 2
PIETERMARITZBURG, December 21 (Absa Premier League) – Thanda Royal Zulu made it a memorable end to 2008 with a 2-0 victory at Maritzburg United lifting them to 10th place in the Absa Premier League table.
Both goals came in the closing 30 minutes with Felix Obada’s opener just after the hour mark followed up by a Nkosinathi Nhleko strike shortly before the final whistle.
It capped a fine week for Amabhubesi, who only last week were facing a bleak Christmas, before victory over Moroka Swallows on Wednesday was followed up by another encouraging performance in Pietermaritzburg.
In a flowing game at the Woodburn Stadium, it was Roger Palmgren’s team that did all the pressing early on and they even had the ball in the back of the net after six minutes, but Bongani Mbhele’s effort was ruled out for offside.
Bernard Parker then saw his shot from inside the penalty area easily held by Richard Gilstrap, before Aubrey Mathibe gave the same treatment to an 18-yard free-kick from Sipho Mngomezulu.
The Thanda goalkeeper was again called into action in the 19th minute, but again comfortably gathered Oska Mathebula’s long-range strike.
Parker and Musa Nyatama both wasted more half chances shortly before the half hour mark by pulling their shots wide, with Obada also twice off-target as the two sides went in level at the break.
Gordon Igesund seemed to have shaken up his team at the break and they come out showing more intent after the restart.
Tony Tsabedze, Lynch Pule and Aka shot narrowly wide, while at the other end Clement Mazibuko’s ambitious 30-yard strike was straight at Gilstrap.
And the best opening of the match came on the hour mark, Peter Petersen cutting inside on the left and firing a well-placed shot that forced Mathibe to parry the ball away.
But just as the hosts looked to have upped their game, they were hit by a 63rd minute sucker-punch.
Mbhele’s excellent movement down the left saw him make room for a cross, before picking out winger Obada in the centre of the penalty area and the Nigerian unleashed a powerful shot into top-right corner of the goal.
Pule, Fadlu Davids and substitute Junior Khanye tried their best to get United back into the game, but were again let down by poor finishing.
Sam Ndlovu did manage to find the target with his 25-yard strike, but found an inspired Mathibe hard to beat as the Thanda goalkeeper managed to tip the ball over, before doing the same to thwart John Arwuah.
And as the home side poured forward in search of the equaliser, Issac Leshabane’s throw in found the in-form Nhleko on the right side of the penalty area and he comfortably slotted the ball home to give our boys a well deserved win.