Cape Town - Two goals in the final 15 minutes earned Maritzburg United a 2-0 win over Platinum Stars in a league match at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Siyabonga Zulu was not far off with scoring when his eighth-minute drive whistled past the far post, the same player drawing a fine save out of Mpandle eight minutes later with a free kick from out on the right.
The best opportunity of the opening half fell to Gift Sithole, but he powered a 43rd-minute header into the side-netting.
Thobani Kunene was agonisingly close to giving Stars the lead five minutes after the interval, but time seemed to stand still as his header looped just past the far post, with Mpandle a spectator.
At the other end, United finally had a chance, on the hour mark, but Evans Rusike slashed his effort wide, while six minutes later Kunene failed to hit the target at the other end.
The breakthrough came 15 minutes from time when a swift counter ended with Mxolisi Kunene crossing for Deolin Mekoa to sweep in a low shot at the near post.
With Stars showing little fight, Lebohang Maboe wrapped up the result just before full-time with a clinical finish after Siphesihle Ndlovu's ball had put him through the middle of the home defence.