POSITIVE START FOR THE TEAM OF CHOICE
Maritzburg United can take several positives from a well-earned point from their 1-1 draw with SuperSport United at the Woodburn Stadium on Friday night.
The home side had some anxious moments in the first half, but looked a whole new team in the second half as they took the game to SuperSport and were quite possibly unlucky not to clinch a win in the end.
The result, and the gutsy second half performance in particular, certainly bodes well for the season ahead, especially considering that seven players made their debut for the club in the game.
Maritzburg survived an early scare when Glen Salmon turned inside the box before striking the upright in the fourth minute.
Felix Obada had a bright debut for the home side, putting in some telling crosses from the right, but unfortunately he was unable to pick out a team-mate on a couple of occasions.
The Team of Choice came ever so close to scoring the opening goal in the 18th minute when Musa Nyatama rose well to meet Rudolph Bester’s cross, but sent his effort just wide.
The visiting side took the lead in the 24th minute when Morgan Gould headed home Daine Klate’s free kick from close range.
But Maritzburg fought back and some good work from Brice Aka just inside the box drew Gould into the foul, earning the home side a penalty.
Noah Chivuta was given the responsibly and coolly slotted home the spot kick to level the game.
The Team of Choice, no doubt charged up by Gordon Igesund’s half time talk, came out firing on all cylinders and nearly scored seconds after the restart, but Obada failed to make positive contact on Peter Petersen’s long throw in.
Maritzburg were able to maintain their high tempo for most of the second stanza and efforts on goal soon arrived from Chivuta, Nyatama and Obada.
The Team of Choic finished the match in storming fashion, but unfortunately the likes of Obada, Chivuta and Kulelani Madondo, were unable to beat United keeper Onyango.
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