Maritzburg, SuperSport draw

Pietermaritzburg - SuperSport United earned a point away from home when they held Maritzburg United to a 0-0 draw at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Tuesday night.
 
The visitors played almost the entire second half with one man less after midfielder Edwin Gyimah received his marching orders, but they managed to keep the home side at bay.
 
The hosts came close to taking the lead in the 8th minute following a goalkeeping error as Ronwen Williams dropped the ball inside the penalty area, but fortunately for him a defender came to his rescue with Cuthbert Malajila lurking.
 
Ashley Hartog then found himself with space outside the penalty area ten minutes later, but he failed to trouble the goalkeeper as his shot flew over the crossbar.
 
Ernst Middendorp’s men came close to breaking the deadlock in the 26th minute when Mario Booysen played a long ball over the defence to find Orlando Smeekes, but he failed to pick his spot and in the end Williams was able to make a comfortable save.
 
Maritzburg United were handed an advantage in the 48th minute when the visitors were reduced to ten men after Gyimah was shown a straight red card for pulling Malajila when he was the last defender in line.
 
However, the rest of the half was similar to the first with Maritzburg enjoying most of the ball possession, but failing to carve clear chances.
 
Hartog came close to stealing the lead in the 59th minute when he connected with a freekick from Jabulani Maluleke, but his header went over the crossbar.
 
Then in the 63rd minute Michael Morton saw his long range shot sailing over the crossbar, while Delron Buckley also achieved the same result three minutes later.
 
Then when it looked like the a goalless draw was certain, both teams created chances at the death with Sibusiso Zuma curling his freekick just wide, while Terrence Mandaza was denied by a good block by Williams at the other end.
 
The visitors had the last say in added time with Maluleke running onto a low cross from Zuma just inside the box, but his shot went just wide of the upright.
 
Teams:
 
Maritzburg: Walters, Cloete, Morton, Booysen M, Matuka, Awal (Mandaza 60’), Buckley, Hendricks, Evans, Smeekes (Zulu 75’), Malajila
 
SuperSport: Williams, Fransman, Hartog, Thwala, Gyimah, Khenyeza (Pietersen 89’), Maluleke, Cale (Zuma 64’), September, Nyondo (Mdluli 51’), Diouf