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Cape Town - Polokwane
City ended 2014 with a 2-1 Absa Premiership victory over Maritzburg United at
the old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday night.
Puleng Tlolane netted a late winner for Rise and Shine, after earlier goals from Cole Alexander and Mohammed Anas had left the teams on level pegging.
Maritzburg should have claimed the lead as early as the sixth minute when some great work by Mondli Cele down the right flank teed up Thokozani Sekotlong with a glaring opportunity, but he somehow missed the target.
Five minutes later United defender Kwanda Mngonyama almost scored an own goal, with a cross from Joseph Musonda deflecting off his outstretched leg and flashing toward goal, but ‘keeper Shu-Aib Walters made a sharp save at his near post.
The visitors enjoyed a string of chances in the first half, but they failed to capitalise on them and were duly punished in the 38th minute when Cole Alexander put Polokwane in the lead, controlling a ball in the penalty area before smashing home a right-footed volley.
Maritzburg continued to look dangerous in attack in the second half and they were denied a strong shout for a penalty in the 56th minute when a shot from Kurt Lentjies appeared to be blocked by the arm of Musonda in the 18-yard area.
Two minutes later the Team of Choice created the best chance of the match to put striker Mohammed Anas one-on-one with goalkeeper Modiri Marumo, but the Ghanaian dragged his shot wide of the target.
However, Anas redeemed himself in the 72nd minute when he finished from close range to make it 1-1. The striker capitalised on a defensive error by Polokwane from an offside position – the match officials felt the ball was directed to him by a defender rather than a team-mate.
With five minutes of regulation time left, substitute Puleng Tlolane put Rise and Shine back into the lead with his eighth league goal of the season. The striker played a quick one-two before beating a defender for pace and directing a low shot past Walters to make it 2-1.
Teams:
Polokwane City
Marumo, Ndou (Tlolane 46’), Musonda, Tema, Motumi, Maluleke, Majafa (Jembula
61’), Alaexander, Langa, Kanyenda, Dhladhla (Molala 63’)
Maritzburg United
Walters, Mabaso, Mngonyama, Paintsil, Zulu, Sekotlong (Mekoa 53’), Mkhize,
Lentjies, Cele, Hartog (Vilakazi 89’), Anas (Mokate 78’)
