Pietermaritzburg - Maritzburg United put a dent in the hopes of Absa Premiership title chasers Ajax Cape Town on Wednesday, with a convincing 3-0 win at the Harry Gwala Stadium, in Pietermaritzburg.
Ajax dropped two places on the log to fourth, while Maritzburg stayed above the relegation zone, rising one place to 13th.
The hosts struck early when Gert Schalkwyk connected with a corner taken by Kurt Lentjies to give Maritzburg the lead in the fifth minute.
Ajax goalkeeper Hans Vonk was the busiest player on the park in the first half.
At the break, Vonk did well to keep the deficit down to 1-0 as the United attack surged forward.
The hosts struck again shortly after the restart, when Lizo Mjempu handled the ball in the area and Rudolph Bester stretched the lead from the resulting penalty in the 50th minute.
Bester secured his brace, and United’s fourth win of the season, when he received a pass from Diyo Sibisi in the 77th minute and fired his shot home.