Maritzburg displayed great resilience to win the first ever match played at the Moses Mabidha Stadium, overcoming AmaZulu 1-0 despite playing for 60 minutes with a man short.

The win was the first under coach Ernest Middendorp and it moves the Team of Choice up to 12th position on the Absa Premiership table.

The result came as a result of a well-organised and disciplined performance, made even more important after the 28th minute sending off of Peter Petersen.

As far as exciting football as concerned, the first half left a lot to be desired as neither team managed to fire on all cylinders, especially in front of goal.

In dark, gloomy and wet conditions, overall play was patchy.

With some rough challenges coming in on a regular basis, neither side found much rhythm, although it was AmaZulu who enjoyed more ball possession and more shots at goal.

The main talking point of the first half came in the 28 th minute when Maritzburg defender Peter Petersen was red-carded after he pulled down Sibusiso Hadebe, who had been released on goal by a superb through ball by Dumisani Ngwenya.

Three minutes later Usuthu had arguably their best chance of the half when Nhlanhla Zwane crossed for Bradley Ritson, but under pressure, he sent a glancing header just wide.

The second half pretty much went the same way as the first, with little in the way of constructive, free flowing football.

The first serious action of the half came in the 67th minute when Maritzburg keeper Goldman did well to save at the feet of a goal-bound Ayanda Dlamini.

The only goal of the game was scored in the 71 st minute when Fadlu Davids rose at the far post to head home James Madidilane’s free kick.

AmaZulu tried to mount a come-back, but for the most part they failed to trouble Goldman as the Team of Choice worked overtime to compensate for their numerical disadvantage, holding on for a deseverd, and hard earned three points.

PHOTO GALLERY

LINE-UPS

AmaZulu: (4-4-2) Mzimela; Bukasa Kasongo, Mkhonza, Bishop, van Heerden; N. Zwane (Mokoro 74’), Biyela (S. Dlamini 59’), Ngxabi (A. Dlamini 50’), Hadebe; Ngwenya, Ritson

Maritzburg: (4-4-2) Goldman; Petersen, Dikilu, Hendricks, Ngwepe; Obada (Bester 55’), Phakathi, Madondo, Chivuta (Madidilani 33’); Aka (Nyatama 87’), Davids