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Pietermaritzburg - Two goals in the space of two minutes from midfielder Musa Nyatama earned Maritzburg United a 2-1 win over Ajax Cape Town in an Absa Premiership clash played at the Woodburn Stadium on Sunday.
The defeat ends any hope the Urban Warriors had of challenging leaders and defending champions SupersSport United for the Premiership title, but puts Maritzburg United clear of the relegation zone.
But once again two controversial refereeing decisions played a part in the match.
For the second time in five days referee Jacob Frolick appears to have got it wrong. The match official disallowed what looked a legitimate goal for Ajax striker Nathan Paulse in the ninth minute for a foul on goalkeeper Shu-Aib Walters.
Frolick awarded what looked a soft penalty to Ajax in the 81st minute.
The same match official awarded Kaizer Chiefs a dodgy penalty which helped Amakhosi defeat Platinum Stars 3-1 at Loftus last Wednesday night.
Paulse made a world of difference to the Urban Warriors in the first half since he returned last week from his Swedish club Hammarby on loan until the end of the season.
He forced Walters to pull off a stunning save from his header that resulted in the corner from which Paulse had his goal disallowed when Franklyn Cale was adjudged to have fouled Walters.
A minute before his goal was disallowed, Paulse thudded home a free header just wide of the United post after a telling cross from Cale.
The home side opted to hit their visitors on the counter attack which meant Ajax held the upper hand in the opening half.
But this defensive tactic nearly paid off in the 13th minute when United’s Namibian midfielder, Rudolf Bester, raced goalwards and missed the target by a whisker.
Ajax South African under-20 striker Thulani Serero showed his lack of experience when he tried to dribble the ball into the net in the 24th minute and was disposed before he got a shot on target.
Ajax veteran keeper Hans Vonk did well to cut out a dangerous cross from Nyatama who aimed for unmarked striker Fadlu Davids on 35 minutes.
The visitors continued to push for the opening goal and midfielder Lance Davids was fractionally side of the United woodwork with a powerful effort in the 38th minute.
United looked a different side after the break. It may have been the pouring rain that revitalised the home side or the team talk that coach Ernst Middendorp gave them at halftime that saw them take the game to Ajax.
Nyatama rifled home a thunderous 25 metre rocket when the Ajax defence failed to clear the loose ball to put United 1-0 ahead in the 55th minute.
Then two minutes later the Benoni born midfielder once again punished the hesitant Ajax defence when he raced goal wards and coolly drew Vonk and placed his shot in the back of the net to put United 2-0 ahead.
Ajax tried hard to get back into the game but Walters did well to deny Cale a goal when he blocked the Ajax winger’s powerful close range shot in the 60th minute.
Bester tested Vonk in the 73rd minute but the former Bafana Bafana keeper managed to keep out the Namibian’s close range shot.
Ajax were given a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty in the 81stminute when Frolick adjudged that defender Peter Petersen had pushed Paulse inside his penalty area.
Davids rammed home the spot kick to make it 2-1 and a nail biting last nine minutes. But United managed to hold on for three valuable points.
The defeat ends any hope the Urban Warriors had of challenging leaders and defending champions SupersSport United for the Premiership title, but puts Maritzburg United clear of the relegation zone.
But once again two controversial refereeing decisions played a part in the match.
For the second time in five days referee Jacob Frolick appears to have got it wrong. The match official disallowed what looked a legitimate goal for Ajax striker Nathan Paulse in the ninth minute for a foul on goalkeeper Shu-Aib Walters.
Frolick awarded what looked a soft penalty to Ajax in the 81st minute.
The same match official awarded Kaizer Chiefs a dodgy penalty which helped Amakhosi defeat Platinum Stars 3-1 at Loftus last Wednesday night.
Paulse made a world of difference to the Urban Warriors in the first half since he returned last week from his Swedish club Hammarby on loan until the end of the season.
He forced Walters to pull off a stunning save from his header that resulted in the corner from which Paulse had his goal disallowed when Franklyn Cale was adjudged to have fouled Walters.
A minute before his goal was disallowed, Paulse thudded home a free header just wide of the United post after a telling cross from Cale.
The home side opted to hit their visitors on the counter attack which meant Ajax held the upper hand in the opening half.
But this defensive tactic nearly paid off in the 13th minute when United’s Namibian midfielder, Rudolf Bester, raced goalwards and missed the target by a whisker.
Ajax South African under-20 striker Thulani Serero showed his lack of experience when he tried to dribble the ball into the net in the 24th minute and was disposed before he got a shot on target.
Ajax veteran keeper Hans Vonk did well to cut out a dangerous cross from Nyatama who aimed for unmarked striker Fadlu Davids on 35 minutes.
The visitors continued to push for the opening goal and midfielder Lance Davids was fractionally side of the United woodwork with a powerful effort in the 38th minute.
United looked a different side after the break. It may have been the pouring rain that revitalised the home side or the team talk that coach Ernst Middendorp gave them at halftime that saw them take the game to Ajax.
Nyatama rifled home a thunderous 25 metre rocket when the Ajax defence failed to clear the loose ball to put United 1-0 ahead in the 55th minute.
Then two minutes later the Benoni born midfielder once again punished the hesitant Ajax defence when he raced goal wards and coolly drew Vonk and placed his shot in the back of the net to put United 2-0 ahead.
Ajax tried hard to get back into the game but Walters did well to deny Cale a goal when he blocked the Ajax winger’s powerful close range shot in the 60th minute.
Bester tested Vonk in the 73rd minute but the former Bafana Bafana keeper managed to keep out the Namibian’s close range shot.
Ajax were given a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty in the 81stminute when Frolick adjudged that defender Peter Petersen had pushed Paulse inside his penalty area.
Davids rammed home the spot kick to make it 2-1 and a nail biting last nine minutes. But United managed to hold on for three valuable points.
