UNITED LOSE OUT IN KZN DERBY
25 February, 2022

It wasn't Maritzburg United's night as we lost 2-1 to Golden Arrows in a KwaZulu-Natal DStv Premiership derby at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Friday.

The first half had been fairly evenly contested, although while Maritzburg had good ball possession and a couple of half chances, it had been Team of Choice goalkeeper Marcel Engelhardt who had been the busier of the two keepers.

Two minutes after the restart and United suffered a setback as Knox Mutizwa put Arrows ahead with a well-taken header from a cross from the left.

The goal stung the Team of Choice into action and the hosts went on to dominate much of the second stanza.

After Riyaad Ismail a header saved by Nkosingiphile Gumede, the Arrows keeper also denied Tawande Macheke after the home striker had done superbly to beat two defenders and fire in a powerful snap-shot in the 73rd minute.

Moments later Maritzburg's efforts were rewarded when Alfred Ndengane rose well at the back-post to head in from Daylon Claasen's pin-point cross.

Parity was however not to last long as the Durban club scored the winner in the 83rd minute after breaking down the right flank through Michael Gumede, whose cross was worked to Mutizwa at the back-post where he applied a close-range finish.

Maritzburg grafted hard to try and get something from the game but couldn't make a couple of chances count, while also being turned down from an appeal for a handball in the visitors' box.

STARTING XI: Engelhardt, Claasen, Daniels, Kewuti, Ndengane, Fernandes, Lukhubeni, Rae, Human, Samu and Macheke

SUBS: Leaner, Ismail, Bhengu, Palace, Baloyi, Njoti, Skelem, Soukouna and Theron