Maritzburg United have claimed top spot on the PSL promotion/relegation playoff log after they defeated Casric Stars 2-0 at the Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday evening.
The Team of Choice claimed the victory thanks to a first-half double from Rowan Human and topped the three-team table on goal difference, having joined Cape Town Spurs on three points.
As for Stars, a second defeat in as many games leaves their hope of promotion all but dead.
Rowan Human got on the scoresheet twice as Maritzburg United beat Casric Stars 2-0 in the PSL Promotional Play-offs ?? pic.twitter.com/J70QH0bF7c
— SuperSport Football ?? (@SSFootball) May 31, 2023
The first clear chance went the way of Maritzburg in the seventh minute, with Bonginkosi Makume’s ball over the top expertly controlled by Genino Palace, who then had a goal-bound shot brilliantly saved by Stars goalkeeper Kgomotos Baloyi.
The hosts continued to look the stronger team in attack and they were rewarded in the 27th minute when Rowan Human picked up a loose ball in the final third, drove toward Stars’ penalty area and let fly with a long-range shot which nestled in the bottom corner of the net for 1-0.
The Team of Choice’s number 10 was in outstanding form and netted a second goal in the 41st minute: a driving run from Karim Kimvuidi opened space on the left of the penalty area for Human, who coolly swept a shot past Baloyi for 2-0.
Casric opted for a double change at the start of the second half, with Sipho Zwane and Abbey Seseane introduced to try and spark their attack to life, but they were actually lucky not to be reduced to 10 men when Ofentse Tlholoe committed two bookable offences within the opening five minutes after the restart but was somehow only shown yellow for the first.
A confident Maritzburg stroked the ball around with style and zip, and should have added to their lead on 64 minutes: substitute Kwame Peprah teed up Tumelo Njoti, who saw his shot saved by the ‘keeper, but the loose ball fell for Kimvuidi, who then missed two successive close-range chances.
Casric posed their first real attacking threat shortly thereafter, with defender Sihle Gum heading on target from a right-flank cross, but United ‘keeper Renaldo Leaner made a fine save.
The Team of Choice were inches away from a third goal in the 76th minute when Brandon Theron struck the far post with an in-swinging shot from just inside the left flank, but ultimately they settled for a 2-0 triumph.
FT | Maximum points!
— Maritzburg United FC (@MaritzburgUtd) May 31, 2023
MUFC 2?? - 0?? Casric Stars
? 27' Rowan Human
? 41' Rowan Human#TeamOfChoice #WeAreUnited pic.twitter.com/9Vf9LbGrca
The playoffs continue on Saturday 3 June with Spurs welcoming Maritzburg to the Athlone Stadium.
Maritzburg United (2) 2 (Human 27’ 41’)
Casric Stars 0
Maritzburg: Leaner, De Goede, Makume, Cross, Theron (Ritchie 82’), Graham (Zuma 82’), Palace, Human (Jooste 82’), Njoti (Meza 74’), Kimvuidi, Samu (Peprah 57’)
Stars: Baloyi, Tshoba (Mathonsi 75’), Gum, Mtshweni, Rammala, Thibedi (Zwane 46’), Tlholoe, Khabane (Seseane 46’), Rakwena (Kubheka 89’), Mosadi (Mlazi 75’), Mojela