Goals from Edward Mnqele and Katlego Mashego saw Ea Lla Koto to a win that means they have taken 10 points from the last 12 available and moved up to third on the table.

The Team of Choice, in contrast, have lost four of their last five league games and dropped down to 11th.

The sides exchanged early chances, though Maritzburg definitely had the better of them. Diyo Sibisi shot wide of goal from just 10 metres out before Mor Diouf directed a Kurt Lentjies corner past the far post.

The home team were made to pay for not converting their opportunities when Stars surged ahead in the 19th minute. Striker Edward Mnqele beat Team of Choice goalkeepers Shu-Aib Walters with an 18-yard drive after good set-up play by Katlego Mashego on the left flank.

The home team had a few half chances to bring themselves level through the likes of Morne Davids, Prince Olomu and Diouf, but errant shooting meant they went into the half time break 1-0 down.

Seven minutes after the restart Maritzburg came close to bringing themselves level but Davids’ shot from just outside the penalty area flashed over the crossbar with Kennedy Mweene seemingly beaten by the effort.

Diyo Sibisi was also guilty of shooting off target from a decent opportunity in the 65th minute, and after that it was Stars who looked more likely to add to their advantage rather than conceded an equaliser.

Substitute Boitumelo Sekgobela forced a good save from Walters on 78 minutes and Noah Chivuta, another who was introduced off the Ea Lla Koto bench, put a header agonisingly wide a short while later as the visitors showed that they were not prepared to sit back and defend their lead.

They were rewarded with a second goal in injury time when Mashego latched onto a pass from Chivuta and beat Walters with a low drive from inside the penalty area.

Maritzburg United 0
Free State Stars (1) 2 (Mnqele 19’, Mashego 90+1’)

Teams:

Maritzburg: Walters; Hendricks, Matuka, Diouf, Petersen, Obada, M. Davids (Donnelly 80’), Morton, Lentjies (Ncubeni 46’), Olomu, Sibisi (Matle 71’)

Stars: Mweene; Gilbert, Gege, Mhamha, Sadate, Gcaba, Mashaba, Wome (Chivuta 75’), Agbagwu (Sekgobela 72’), Mashego, Mnqele (Lebyane 46’)