A 15 minute blitz at the start of the second half saw the University of Pretoria score four goals as they came from behind to beat Maritzburg United 4-2 in an Absa Premiership match at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Saturday night.

The result sees Tuks move out of the relegation zone and into 14th place on the table with 20 points from 24 matches.

The result for Maritzburg sees them pegged to the bottom of the table with 16 points from 23 matches.

The home side started positively with Philani Zulu trying his luck from the edge of the box in the third minute, but his effort shaved the wrong side of the post.

Martizburg continued to press forward and were rewarded for their efforts in the 24th minute when a great run from Deolin Mekoa concluded with him firing the ball home from just outside the box, 1-0.

Neither side could add to their tally as the half ended 1-0 in favour of the home side.

Tuks came out flying in the second half and equalised three minutes in when Mpho Maruping turned home a cross from Vuyisile Ntombayithethi, 1-1.

In the 51st minute Lennox Bacela gave the away side the lead after a scramble inside the box saw him firing the ball into the bottom corner of the net, 2-1.

Bacela found his second of the game two minutes later after a swift run saw him beat the off-side trap as he coolly slotted the ball beyond the keeper, 3-1.

Maritzburg’s problems were further compounded on the hour mark when Atusaye Nyondo made it 4-1 after his shot from the edge of the box deflected into the goal.

The Team of Choice tried to find their way back into the game and did manage to pull a goal back in the 67th minute when Zulu headed home a cross from Pogiso Sanoka, 4-2.

Four minutes later Maritzburg were afforded a great chance to pull back yet another goal when the referee awarded them a penalty after adjudging Partson Jaure to have handled the ball inside the box.

Unfortunately, for the home side Kurt Lentjies failed to convert from the spot when his penalty-kick hit the woodwork.

In the end Tuks held on to pick up a vital three points in the relegation battle.

Martizburg United (1) 2 (Mekoa 24’, Zulu 67’)
University of Pretoria (0) 4 (Maruping 48’, Bacela 51’+53’, Nyondo 60’)

Teams

Maritzburg: Verbauwhede, Teyise, Mngonyama, Onyango, Mogapi, D. Mekoa, Zulu, Rusike, Lentjies, Booysen (Anas 59’), Banda (Sanoka 27’)

Tuks: Coetsee, Ngubane, Jaure, Mwedihanga, Mthethwa, Maruping, Ntombayithethi, Nemukondeni (Chikohwa 85’), Mnyamane (Zwane 65’), Bacela (Ketjijere 87’), Nyondo