Jayiya strike gives Komphela winning start
A late goal from Bhongolwethu Jayiya handed Maritzburg United a 3-2 win over University of Pretoria in a pulsating Absa Premiership encounter at Tuks Stadium on Wednesday night.
Atusaye Nyondo scored for the hosts before two goals in quick succession by Kurt Lentjies and Mario Booysen gave United the lead.
A superb free-kick by Thabo Mnyamane looked to have secured a point for the hosts, but Jayiya scored with the last kick of the game to give Steve Komphela the perfect start as head coach of The Team of Choice.
Steve Barker made three changes to the AmaTuks outfit that lost 1-0 to SuperSport United last time out.
Atusaye Nyondo, Khethukuthula Zwane and Thabo Mosadi formed part of what was a very attack minded starting XI.
Meanwhile, Steve Khompela, who was in charge of his first game as Maritzburg United coach, included Kurt Lentjies in the starting XI while Jayiya was named amongst the substitutes.
Lentjies returned to the Team of Choice for a second spell following an unsuccessful time at Matsatsantsa.
AmaTuks opened the scoring through Atusaye Nyondo in the 14th minute. Geofrey Massa’s exact ball into the area was poked past Shu-Aib Walters from close range, 1-0.
The home side continued to look the more threatening of the two sides, with Thabo Mosadi in particular causing Maritzburg’s defence all sorts of problems down the right flank.
The Team of Choice’s best attempt of the half fell to captain Michael Morton, who could only manage to direct his header attempt straight at Washington Arubi from close range in the 24thminute.
Tuks finished the half the stronger the two sides, with Massa notably flashing a couple of powerful attempts just wide of Walters’ goal.
University of Pretoria 1-0 Maritzburg United at the interval.
Maritzburg started the second-half brightly, with Ruben Cloete almost finding the back of the net, his volley from range going just over Arubi’s crossbar.
Tebogo Monyai pulled off a superb bit of defending in the 62nd minute. The veteran defender somehow cleared the ball off the line following a quick counter from the Team of Choice.
Walters was forced into a brilliant save seven minutes later, Massa’s quick-fire attempt at goal was kept out superbly by the former Bafana Bafana keeper, who tipped the ball onto his post before gathering to keep his side in the game.
Lentjies pulled the visitors level from the penalty spot in the 82nd minute following a foul from Grant Kekana on Orlando Smeekes inside the area.
Four minutes later United took the lead through Booysen, who lost his marker before directing an unstoppable effort past Arubi.
Mnyamane equalised for the hosts with a wonderful free-kick in the second minute of stoppage time, but Jayiya secured the points for Maritzburg after rounding Arubi with virtually the last kick of the game.
University of Pretoria (1) 2 (Nyondo 14’ Mnyamane 90+2’)
Mmaritzburg United (0) 3 (Lentjies 82’ M. Booysen 85’ Jayiya 90+4’)
University of Pretoria: Arubi, Kekana, Nyondo (Mnyamane 86’), Mkhwanazi, Moussono-Moussono, Ketjijere, Monyai, Massa (Ngubane 72’), Zwane, Mosadi, Monama (Mathosi 86’)
Maritzburg United: Walters, M. Booysen, Awal, Evans, Isaacks, Cloete, Lentjies, Sheppard (Jayiya 58’), Matuka (Smeekes 57’), Sekotlong (Buckley 76’), Morton
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