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Yakubu Mohammed scored the only goal of the match as Maritzburg United defeated Polokwane City 1-0 in an Absa Premiership encounter at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Saturday night.
United’s new frontman was full of running throughout the match and was not shy to fire towards the target and was eventually rewarded with a goal midway through the second half.
The Ghanaian showed his intentions from the onset, sending his powerful freekick over the crossbar in the fifth minute, before shooting wide of the upright seconds later.
Six minutes later United goalkeeper Shu-aib was forced into action, diving to his right to parry a misdirected clearance from his own defender Mario Booysen, which almost flew into the back of the net.
United then had two good chances to break the deadlock, but Mohammed headed Dillon Sheppard’s cross wide in the 16th minutes, while the latter curled his freekick over the bar three minutes later.
Heinrich Isaacks should have broken the deadlock in the 31st minute when he was left alone at the far post to meet a low cross from Ruben Cloete, only to fire wide of goal.
Ernst Middendorp’s side had a penalty appeal turned down in the 44th minute when Cloete was caught with a late tackle on the edge of the penalty area but the referee awarded a free kick just outside the box.
Mohammed took over the setpiece duties once again but the Ghanaian failed to trouble City goalkeeper and captain Modiri Marumo as his effort sailed wide of goal.
Duncan Lechesa’s men had the first chance of the second half in the 55th minute, but Thabo Rakhale was denied by a good save from Walters, who also managed to push the ball away from the onrushing Sphesihle Nzimande.
The deadlock was broken in the 68th minute from a freekick which saw Sheppard nudging the ball towards Mohammed, who then blasted his low shot into the back of the net to send the home crowd into frenzy.
Terrance Mandaza tried to extend the lead in the 82nd minute when he unleashed a shot from outside the box, but his effort went wide as United held on for a slender win.
Maritzburg United (0) 1 (Mohammed 68’)
Polokwane City 0
Teams:
Maritzburg United: Walters, Evans, Awal, Booysen M, Cloete, Morton, De Jongh (Buckley 64’), Isaacks (Smeekes 46’), Sheppard, Mandaza (Mkhize 82’), Mohammed
Polokwane City: Modiri, Tema, Lichaba, Mngqibisa, Mthimkulu, Motsiane (Mathibe 79’), Molala, Macuphu (Tlolane 70’), Nzimande, Gopane (Mkhwanazi 84’), Rakhale
United’s new frontman was full of running throughout the match and was not shy to fire towards the target and was eventually rewarded with a goal midway through the second half.
The Ghanaian showed his intentions from the onset, sending his powerful freekick over the crossbar in the fifth minute, before shooting wide of the upright seconds later.
Six minutes later United goalkeeper Shu-aib was forced into action, diving to his right to parry a misdirected clearance from his own defender Mario Booysen, which almost flew into the back of the net.
United then had two good chances to break the deadlock, but Mohammed headed Dillon Sheppard’s cross wide in the 16th minutes, while the latter curled his freekick over the bar three minutes later.
Heinrich Isaacks should have broken the deadlock in the 31st minute when he was left alone at the far post to meet a low cross from Ruben Cloete, only to fire wide of goal.
Ernst Middendorp’s side had a penalty appeal turned down in the 44th minute when Cloete was caught with a late tackle on the edge of the penalty area but the referee awarded a free kick just outside the box.
Mohammed took over the setpiece duties once again but the Ghanaian failed to trouble City goalkeeper and captain Modiri Marumo as his effort sailed wide of goal.
Duncan Lechesa’s men had the first chance of the second half in the 55th minute, but Thabo Rakhale was denied by a good save from Walters, who also managed to push the ball away from the onrushing Sphesihle Nzimande.
The deadlock was broken in the 68th minute from a freekick which saw Sheppard nudging the ball towards Mohammed, who then blasted his low shot into the back of the net to send the home crowd into frenzy.
Terrance Mandaza tried to extend the lead in the 82nd minute when he unleashed a shot from outside the box, but his effort went wide as United held on for a slender win.
Maritzburg United (0) 1 (Mohammed 68’)
Polokwane City 0
Teams:
Maritzburg United: Walters, Evans, Awal, Booysen M, Cloete, Morton, De Jongh (Buckley 64’), Isaacks (Smeekes 46’), Sheppard, Mandaza (Mkhize 82’), Mohammed
Polokwane City: Modiri, Tema, Lichaba, Mngqibisa, Mthimkulu, Motsiane (Mathibe 79’), Molala, Macuphu (Tlolane 70’), Nzimande, Gopane (Mkhwanazi 84’), Rakhale
