Free State Stars, Maritzburg share spoils

Free State Stars and Maritzburg United shared the spoils at Goble Park on Saturday as their Absa Premiership match ended 1-1.

It was the perfect start to the game for Maritzburg who took the lead in the second minute after Kwanda Mngonyama turned home a Thamsanqa Mkhize pass with an expert finish.

Stars tried to fight their way back into the match and came close in the 11th minute when a long range shot from Moffat Mdluli sailed inches wide of the post.

Two minutes later Bokang Thlone tried his luck from the edge of the box, but just like his teammate his effort went agonisingly wide.

Stars’ shooting was certainly not at its best in the first half and Camaldine Abraw’s 20-yard effort in the 24th minute was evidence of this once more as his attempts skewed just wide.

The Ea Lla Koto continued to press forward, but were unable to find an equaliser before the break.

The start of the second half saw Stars continue to pile on the pressure and finally they were rewarded in the 56th minute when Moeketsi Sekola found the back of the net with a sublime finish after latching onto a long ball from the back, 1-1.

The goal appeared to awaken the United team and they began playing some decent football of their own.

In the 72nd minute Bruce Mtshali had to be at his best to turn a stinging shot from Maritzburg’s Khumbulani Banda around the post.

Both teams pushed for a winner in the final ten minutes, but neither could find the back of the net as the spoils were shared.

Free State Stars (0) 1 (Sekola 56’)

Maritzburg United (1) 1 (Mngonyama 2’)

Teams

Free State Stars: Mtshali, Sankara, Letuka (Thebakang 64’), Mkhwanazi (Bester 67’), Thlone, Masehe, Mashego, Shabalala, Mdluli, Sekola, Abraw (Fileccia 52’).

Maritzburg United: Vries, Mabaso, Matuka, Mngonyama, Hartog, Pantsil, Mkhize (Booysen 68’), Cele (Lentjies 65’), Banda, Vilakazi (Mandaza 50’), Anas.