10-man Tuks down Maritzburg

Pretoria - University of Pretoria have played for over an hour with a numerical disadvantage but still registered a 1-0 win over Maritzburg United on Sunday.

An early goal for Atusaye Nyondo saw AmaTuks to victory in their Absa Premiership match at the Tuks Stadium, though the hosts had to play over an hour of the match with 10 men following the expulsion of Vuyisile Ntombayithethi.

The result sees the Tshwane side extend their unbeaten league run to eight matches (including three wins from their last four games), while the Team of Choice has now gone an equal number of league outings without registering a victory.

Tuks got off to a flying start and opened the scoring in the seventh minute, with Atusaye Nyondo slotting home from Grant Kekana’s assist to put the home side in control early on.

However, the University side were dealt a major blow just before the half hour mark when Vuyisile Ntombayithethi was shown a straight red card for violent conduct in a challenge with Kurt Lentjies.

Maritzburg, with a numerical advantage, dominated possession and forced Tuks on the back foot, though the hosts remained a potent threat on the counter attack.

United created several good chances to gain parity in the second half, though a combination of poor finishing and some excellent defending by Tuks kept the KwaZulu-Natal side at bay.

The result sees Tuks move up to seventh on the log with 29 points, while United remain in 10th on 24 points.

Scorer:

University of Pretoria (1) 1 (Nyondo 7’)
Maritzburg United 0

Teams:

University of Pretoria: Arubi, Kekana, Shoyisa, Jaure (Nkausu 90’), Monyai, Matsi, Ntombayithethi, Mosadi (Zwane 90+3’), Mnyamane, Massa, Nyondo (Ketjijere 31’)

Maritzburg United:  Vries, Mabaso (Cele 46’), Banda (Sekotlong 37’), Paintsil, Vilakazi, Mkhize, Lentjies, Mngonyama, Mokate (Mandaza 67’), P. Zulu, Anas