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Santos beat Maritzburg

Durban - An injury-time goal by Santos striker Erwin Isaacs was enough to beat Maritzburg United after the teams went into half-time goalless in their Absa Premiership match at Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg Saturday afternoon.

With the match into the five minutes' injury time, Santos substitute Eleazar Rodgers placed his pass to Isaacs and he hammered the ball first-time into the top of the net from just outside the six-yard box. It was a goal against the run of play and belied the fact that United had dominated both halves in terms of territory and opportunities.

The hot humid afternoon did the players no favours but they were determined to give the packed grandstand quality entertainment, although the spark was missing from this encounter.

In the fourth, Graham King's cross from the left was cleared away for a corner by Maritzburg central defender Mor Diouf to avert the lurking Santos forwards.

Byrone Hendricks put Musa Nyatama clear but the alert Santos keeper Lee Langeveldt time his intervention from the goalline perfectly to smother the chance.

Midway through the first half a stunning United move up the left channel that involved skipper Fadlu Davids twice and the talented Kurt Lentjies the same number of times ended with the inform Namibian Rudolf Bester forcing a full-stretch save from Langeveldt.

But Santos were not out of the picture entirely and they gave the United defence some tight moments, Jurie Basie forcing Elias Ngwepe to turn his shot away for a corner and their best chance – an Erwin Isaacs shot from the just inside the six-yard box that induces a stunning reflex save from Walters.

After the goalless first half, a jinking Felix Obada run from the right wing made space for sub Brice Aka, on for Bester, but his shot from 25 metres curled wide of the far post. The diminutive Obada was giving Ricardo Skippers endless headaches and the tide was definitely with the Team of Choice.

In the 55th Musa Nyatama's speculative effort from 35 metres sailed a good five feet over the crossbar, then Diouf got in the act but was off-target.

In the 58th Isaacs countered with a cross that Phikolethu Spelman steered goal wards but Walters was there to block the effort. Then at the other end almost immediately afterwards, Aka was troubling Langeveldt but needed to get his compass sorted out.

Play swung from end to end but the finishing was poor although Obada, in great form, again caused Santos a heart-stopping moment or two and looked the player hungriest to score in a lukewarm game.

However, in the 74th David collided with Langeveldt in a situation in the six-yard box where the goalkeeper's intervention prevented a near-certain goal.

Whatever the result, Maritzburg United will still be looking forward to the KZN derby against AmaZulu, hopefully at the splendid Moses Mabhida Stadium, in the Telkom Cup knockout first-round match in two Saturday's time.

Going into the match, United had the confidence of the impressive 2-1 win against Orlando Pirates two-and-half weeks ago in front of a packed Harry Gwala Stadium of 12 000 frenzied home fans, while Santos were coming off a disappointing 1-0 home defeat to AmaZulu at Athlone Stadium 10 days ago.

The lowest United could finish if they lost was 12th – same as last year – not too bad for a side who seemingly were permanent relegation candidates in previous seasons. A win could put them in ninth spot, depending on AmaZulu's result against Absa Premiership winners for the third consecutive time, SuperSport United, at Moses Mabhida.

The home side was quietly confident going into the match, aware that a successful outcome would stand them in good stead for the Telkom Cup.

Santos were equally intent on victory as that would keep Orland Pirates, away to Bloemfontein Celtic, out of the way of a fourth place Absa Premiership finish.

Maritzburg 0
Santos (0) 1 (Isaacs 93')

Maritzburg (4-4-2): Walters; Hendricks, Booysen, Diouf, Ngwepe; Obada, Lentjies, Nyatama (Chivuta 84'), Madondo; Davids (Badiane 84'), Bester (Aka 48')

Santos (4-4-2): Langeveldt; Ntloana, W Arendse, Otieno, Skippers; Basie (Rodgers 81'), T Arendse, S Arendse (Gabonamong 68'), King; Isaacs, Spelman

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