Maritzburg United gave their Absa Premiership survival hopes a massive boost on Saturday when they overcame SuperSport United 3-1 at the Harry Gwala Stadium.
In their final match in front of their home fans, a near full-house of 12,000 witnessed their Team of Choice deliver a performance that merited their support as they overwhelmed Matsatsantsa thanks to a brace by substitute Judas Moseamedi and a Mohau Mokate goal in the opening four minutes.
Fortune Makaringe provided the assist for all three goals and coach Eric Tinkler was over the moon afterwards.
The result was key to keeping Maritzburg’s survival hopes alive. In fact they could have moved off the bottom of the table for the first time since last December had some of the other results gone their way.
Instead, they remained last, but now with 26 points, one less than Black Leopards, Free State Stars and Chippa United, while they are two behind Baroka FC, who they face in Limpopo on the final day next Saturday. Tinkler remained hopeful over the future.
SuperSport coach Kaitano Tembo meanwhile, was disappointed by the performance of his players, affirming they were beaten by a much hungrier home team.
The Tshwane side were on the back foot from the outset after falling behind to Mokate’s header, but they gave themselves hope when Maphosa Modiba levelled things straight after half time.
But buoyed by the vociferous home crowd, United went on comfortably overwhelm them, much to the disappointment of the Matsatsantsa coach.
Sixth-placed SupersSport of course had little to play for coming into the game. Their top eight berth was already secured, while their chances of qualifying for Africa had already disappeared a few weeks back.
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Amazing scenes at the Harry Gwala Stadium!
Thank you #BlueArmy ?#WeBelieve #WeAreUnited #TeamBlue pic.twitter.com/rJKLQ01b8y
— Maritzburg United FC (@MaritzburgUtd) May 5, 2019
Tembo, though, said he was surprised to see a team with the calibre of Maritzburg sitting where they were on the table, saying he felt they may have been unlucky this season.
He nonetheless wished them well for their season finale at Baroka next week. – Report by Thahir Asmal
