MARITZBURG UTD VS GOLDEN ARROWS | ABSA

Competition: PSL
Date: Wednesday, 6 April 2014
Venue: Harry Gwala Stadium
Kick-off: 15:00pm

Lamontville Golden Arrows have slumped to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of KwaZulu-Natal rivals Maritzburg United in their Absa Premiership clash at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The only goal of the game was scored by Orlando Smeekes in the first half and Abafana Bes’thende had their chances after that but could not convert.

Co-coaches Shaun Bartlett and Bheka Phakathi started with the twin strike-force of Chris Katongo and Bongi Ntuli, as they sought to put Maritzburg under pressure.

But it was the home team who started the brighter and they were ahead on 17 minutes as Smeekes beat the offside trap and provided a neat finish.

Thembela Sikhakhane tried his luck from range but saw his effort float high and wide, while Manti Moholo had a good opportunity for the visitors just before the break as he fired wide from the edge of the box.
Arrows made two changes at the break, bringing on Deon Hotto and Rudolf Bester for Moholo and Philani Shange respectively, but it was Maritzburg who had the first chance of the half.

Mario Booysen headed wide from a corner when he might have done better. Ntuli made a sight of goal for himself but his shot at Shu-Aib Walters, restored to the Maritzburg starting line-up, was poor.

Jabulani Nene was shown his marching orders after the final whistle for something he said to referee Victor Gomes.

Next up for Arrows is on Wednesday away at Ajax Cape Town, a must-win if they are to climb out of their current predicament.

MATCH STATS
Maritzburg United (1) 1 (Smeekes 17’)
Lamontville Golden Arrows 0

Maritzburg: Walters, Evans, Awal, M Booysen, Cloete, Mkhize, Sarfo-Gyamfi (Shandu 56’), Smeekes (Morton 64’), Lentjies (Mandaza 58’), Jayiya, Hartog

Arrows: Bartman, Zwane, Ntombayithethi, Musonda, Sikhakhane, Mngwengwe, Shange (Bester 46’), Moholo (Hotto 46’), Katongo (Zothwane 75’), Nene, Ntuli