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Ernst Middendorp (Gallo Images)
Maritzburg United extended their unbeaten streak at PSL to five games after recording an impressive 5-1 win over Chippa United at Harry Gwala Stadium on Saturday.
The Chilli Boys first drew blood in the 28th minute thanks to Mokhele Maloisane, but Maritzbnurg responded well, first drawing in the 35th minute before taking the lead four minutes later, Thabiso Kutumela pocketing both goals.
And Maritzburg carried their momentum into the second half when Bongokuhle Hlongwane, Tebogo Tlolane and Jose Ali Meza added their names to the score sheet.
The visitors started the game on the front foot and forged two good early chances when Sandile Mthethwa and Anthony Laffor forced Maritzburg goalkeeper Marcel Engelhardt into action in the first ten minutes.
After a brief hiatus in play, Chippa again came close to taking the lead when Mthethwa narrowly headed off the right post in the 19th minute.
Maritzburg finally fired his first notable shot on goal in the 22nd minute, but it came to nothing when José Ali Meza fired off the mark from a tight angle after Daniel Morgan attacked him.
The Team of Choice squandered another opportunity moments later when Bongokuhle Hlongwane shot high and wide from the right side of the penalty area.
And the hosts lamented the missed opportunities as Chippa took the lead in the 28th minute, Maloisane clinging to a well-weighted pass from Ayabulela Konqobe before punching the ball into the back of the net.
The goal elicited a great response from Maritzburg, who came close to leveling just a minute later when Thabiso Kutumela couldn’t find the mark from the left side of the area.
However, Kutumela was quick to amend, packing the tie in the 35th minute before adding a second goal just four minutes later with a precise shot from outside the area.
Maritzburg picked up where it left off after the break, extending later in the 50th minute when Bongokuhle Hlongwane fired a low kick to the corner from the edge of the area after a counterattack.
Chippa tried to come back after conceding the third goal, but was unable to reduce the deficit as Augustine Kwem watched as Engelhardt saved his shot, Ayabulela Konqobe shot over the crossbar from outside the area moments later.
Engelhardt denied Kwem again in the 65th minute, while teammate Jerry Msane headed high and wide after getting up well to face Mokhele Maloisane’s corner kick.
Another opportunity was wasted a couple of minutes later when Chippa’s Cameroonian forward Bienvenu Eva Nga saw her header blocked by Engelhardt in the lower right corner.
After surviving that sustained period of pressure, Maritzburg’s Tebogo Tlolane added his name to the score sheet in the 82nd minute, with Meza providing the assist for the goal.
And the Team of Choice rubbed more salt on the Chilli Boys’ wounds as Meza stepped into the act, conceding from the center of the area in the 87th minute.
They could have added a sixth in the final stages of the match, but Kutumela missed a chance to score a third goal when his shot was blocked by Chippa goalkeeper Ayanda Mtshali.
