TS GALAXY 0-2 MARITZBURG UNITED
20 March 2021
The Team of Choice put up a spirited performance in claiming a 2-0 DStv Premiership win over TS Galaxy at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday evening.
Both goals were scored in the second half - Bongokuhle Hlongwane netted the opener before Thabiso Kutumela added the security of a second.
Maritzburg had the better of the first half exchanges and it was home keeper Marlon Hugh who was the busier of the two shot stoppers.
Indeed Hugh was called into action with just a minute played, doing very well to dive to his right to get a finger-tip to keep out Jose Meza’s stinging drive.
For the most part though the opening stanza was a hard-fought affair and it was only in the 39th minute that the next chance arrived, when Daylon Claasen’s cross into the box picked out Kutumela, whose near post volley was also saved by Hugh.
After the two sides had battled for supremacy in the opening 10 minutes of the second stanza, United again got on top of the game and appeared unfortunate not to get a penalty when Meza went down in the Galaxy box.
They were also close to going in front when Dan Morgan’s long-range effort rattled the crossbar.
The Team of Choice finally had their reward in the 74th minute when Bandile Shandu played in Hlongwane, who cut in from the right and blazed a brilliant left-footed shot into the top corner.
The second goal came just six minutes later and saw Kutumela getting his fifth goal in five matches after a jinking run into the box and aclinical finish.
Maritzburg had to work hard in the final minutes of the game as the Rockets came storming back, and it took two breathtaking late saves by Team of Choice keeper Marcel Engelhardt to ensure the clean sheet.
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