Two first half goals from Rudolph Bester and Kurt Lentjies was enough to seal a 2-0 victory for Maritzburg United in their Absa Premiership match against Bloemfontein Celtic on Wednesday night at the Seisa Ramabodu Stadium.
The Team of Choice started like a house on fire and got off to the perfect start when Bester put them in front in only the eighth minute of the match, concluding a well worked passing movement by his side. Bester did not hesitate when he got the opportunity in front of goal and duly fired the ball home, 1-0.
That early goal set United up with the confidence to play the free-flowing football we all enjoy watching. Consequently they dominated the midfield battle with some crunching tackles and a no-nonsense attitude, chasing down every loose ball.
But despite having the majority of possession in the opening 45 minutes, Maritzburg still struggled to create any clear-cut chances on goal.
But who needs a clear-cut route to goal when one can simply fire straight down the middle? That is exactly what Kurt Lentjies did in the 37th minute.
After picking the ball up in the midfield, Lentjies drove forward and unleashed a wonder shot from 30 yards out. Patrick Tignyemb in the Celtic goal had no chance as he watched the ball sail past him into the top right hand corner, 2-0.
Celtic went into the half time break a dejected side and were looking to do a lot better in their second half.
But the home side continued to struggle to find their rhythm and it looked like it was not to be their night and this was none more evident than when second half substitute Sandile Ndlovu had a great opportunity to pull a goal back.
Ndlovu found himself in acres of space and had a free header on goal from only six yards out, but he failed to really test the keeper heading his effort straight at Shu-Aib Walters.
Nonetheless, Phunya Sele Sele were not disheartened by this and continued to pile the pressure on the United goal, but much like Maritzburg in the first half they could not convert their dominance into clear-cut opportunities on goal.
In the end the Team of Choice was able to hold onto their two goal lead and picked up a vital three points to take them further away from the bottom of the league table.
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