UNITED STUN BUCS 17 February 2010 Maritzburg United Football Club scored a superb 2-1 win over Orlando Pirates in a PSL encounter at a packed Harry Gwala Stadium on Wednesday night.

United laid the foundations early on as they dominated the first half and had Pirates on the back foot thanks to a Fadlu Davids goal in the 25th minute and a Mario Booysen strike six minutes later.

Davids powered home a header from a corner kick while man-of-the-match Booysen pounced from close range after Moeneeb Josephs parried Rudolf Bester's header.

Bucs pulled a goal back in the 72nd minute when Andile Jali fired home a low drive from 20-yards out.

Bucs pushed hard towards the end of the game to try and level matters, but Shuiab Walters made some breathtaking saves to ensure a famous win for Ernst Middendorp's team.

After the kick off, The Team of Choice were out of the blocks quickly, attacking from the very first minute, far and away the best side in the first half.

The Buccaneers simply couldn’t handle the pace of the Maritzburg attack and that was evident from the fifth minute when Rudolph Bester outstripped the Pirates defence. As he drove forward he unleashed a powerful shot from about 25 yards out that narrowly slipped past the post.

Four minutes later and United were on the attack again, this time Felix Obada driving forward using his pace to again get the better of the Buccaneers defence. But his 20 yard shot also missed the target by inches.

Then in the 19th minute Fadlu Davids almost grabbed the game’s opening goal with a glancing header from a corner-kick.

In the 25th minute when Davids headed Maritzburg United in front. Kurt Lentjies whipped in a good cross to find an unmarked Davids ten yards out and he made no mistake, grabbing his seventh league goal of the season, 1-0.

In the 31st minute they Lentjies whipped in an in-swinging free-kick from the left side of the filed and again a United player was left unmarked, this time Bester was the man.

Bester’s header, however, was superbly saved by Josephs who unfortunately palmed the ball into the path of Mario Booysen who made no mistake in firing the ball home from only a couple of yards out, 2-0.

The Team of Choice nearly scored their third goal six minutes later when Obada got behind the Pirates defence and only had Josephs to beat, but instead of picking a spot and delicately placing his shot, Obada decided to opt for power. Josephs was up to the challenge, punching the ball away from danger.

Pirates certainly started the second half in a more attacking manner, but they continued to struggle to find their rhythm. Still they did have the lion’s share of possession in the second 45 minutes and opted for a shoot-on-sight policy with very little success.

Nonetheless, Thulasizwe Mbuyane did pull the best out of Maritzburg’s goalkeeper in the 64th minute when he unleashed a powerful shot from just outside the 18 yard box. Shu-Aib Walters, however, produced a fine save diving full stretch to his right to tip the effort around the post.

TEAMS

United: Walters; Petersen, Ngwepe, Booysen, Diouf; Obada (Arwuah 60’), Lentjies, Madondo, Nyatama, Bester (Badian 80’); Davids (Aka 71’)

Pirates: Josephs; Mahamutsa, Lekgwathi, Makonese (Mthembu 68’), Thwala; Mabalane, Chansa, Jali, Modise (Chenene 50’); Mbuyane, Masina (Schalkwyk 56’)

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