Publications
Partners
MARITZBURG United provided a spirited but ultimately fruitless challenge as the 10-man Mamelodi Sundowns took pole position in the Absa Premiership with a 2-1 win at Harry Gwala Stadium on Tuesday night.
It was a game where the home team had enough of their own scoring opportunities but the clinical stuff came from the defending champions in terms of putting away chances.
United coach Eric Tinkler made two tactical and two forced changes, which partly resulted in a new front pairing of Allan Kateregga and Thabiso Kutumela.
It took just six minutes for Sundowns to get on the scoreboard as recent signing Emiliano Tade beat United goalkeeper Richard Ofori with a low shot from inside the box.
Tinkler’s desperate outfit looked to hit back quickly and kept Sundowns keeper Denis Onyango and his defence on their toes, with Kutumela often in the action.
However, Lebohang Maboe doubled the Pretoria side’s lead in the 21st minute when put through by skilful playmaker Gaston Sirino. That was a massive setback for the hosts and further proof of Sundowns’ well-known craftiness on the ball, but Tinkler stayed hopeful and brought on another attacker in Yannick Zakri for defender Rushine de Reuck despite defensive gaps existing.
In the second half, Sirino’s needless red card in the 59th minute gave United renewed hope of a comeback and Fortune Makaringe scored for them in the 81st minute from close range. However, a few more scoring chances were spurned by the “Team of Choice” as ’Downs managed the remaining time satisfactorily for their widely-expected victory.
Fourth-from-bottom Baroka hosted 11th-placed Golden Arrows in Limpopo on Tuesday and United, prior to the match, could only hope the home side came unstuck, despite the poor form of the travelling Arrows.
Five matches will follow on the weekend, but the shortened programme excludes Maritzburg, Sundowns, Pirates and Baroka due to there being Caf Champions League assignments for the Brazilians and Buccaneers.
