Sports / Soccer
Cuthbert Malajila down Kaizer Chiefs
18 Apr 2012 at 04:10hrs | Views
A well-taken 74th minute strike by former Highlanders and Dynamos striker Cuthbert Malajila, against the run of play, gave Maritzburg United an important win against Kaizer Chiefs in Polokwane, their first Absa Premiership win away from home all season.
Malajila chased a long diagonal ball that was played out of defence and took it on his head, putting the ball into space to run onto.
He then beat countryman Jimmy Jambo in the physical battle to get to the loose ball first, evaded Dominic Isaacs's challenge and drew Itumeleng Khune before stabbing his shot past the Bafana Bafana goalkeeper.
Great composure by Malajila all round and a worthy strike to win any football match.
In a tense match that was often end to end action, Chiefs had their moments but were often too erratic and lacked the composure needed to turn possession into goals.
Maritzburg United, who had not won away from home in the League up until Tuesday night, defended well and were organised on and off the ball, clearly showing the organisational stamp of coach Ernst Middendorp on the team.
From an early free kick in the third minute, United's skipper Kurt Lentjies struck the upright with his attempt. The ball got through the wall and dipped to beat Itumeleng Khune's reach and hit the base of the near post.
In the 19th minute Maritzburg United felt they had a penalty decision worth shouting for turned down.
Felix Obada got forward on the right and when he sent in his cross, it seemed as if the ball struck Tefu Mashamaite's hand or face. While Maritzburg felt it was his hand, referee Damon was not interested.
Three minutes later, Lentjies broke out with pace and sent an excellent through ball to Malajila who got into space, but his touch to try and go around the last man was too heavy. Khune came off his line bravely and smothered the danger.
Chiefs' best chance of the opening half came when Abia Nale cut in from the right, pulled the ball onto his left foot and cranked in a shot from distance, which dipped dangerously, but was tipped onto the bar by Shuaib Walters.
It took ten minutes into the second half for Chiefs to really create a proper scoring chance after they came out with much more purpose after the break.
But when Nale got the ball in space on the right side of the danger area, the former Golden Arrows player could not make use of the opportunity and a defender got back to block off his shot.
In the 62nd minute Chiefs also had a penalty decision turned down, a similar one to what Maritzburg had in the first half.
Parker fired in a first time shot from Nale's cross only to see Peter Petersen throw his body in the way and the ball slammed into his hand on its way goalwards.
Both penalty shouts were worth the appeal and both teams will feel they could easily have been given a penalty in these situations.
In the end the visitors put the ball into the back of the net, something the home side just could not do.
Kaizer Chiefs 0
Maritzburg United 1 (Malajila 74')
TEAMS
Chiefs: Khune; Tau, Isaacs, Mashamaite, Jambo; Nale (Masango 76'), Katsande, Baloyi, Tshabalala; Parker (Lebese 78'), Majoro (Ngcobo 59')
Maritzburg: Walters; Petersen, Booysen, Diouf, De Jong; Obada, Madondo (Poggenpoel 85'), Hendricks, Mathuka (Davids 71'), Lentjies; Malajila (Sibisi 88')
Malajila chased a long diagonal ball that was played out of defence and took it on his head, putting the ball into space to run onto.
He then beat countryman Jimmy Jambo in the physical battle to get to the loose ball first, evaded Dominic Isaacs's challenge and drew Itumeleng Khune before stabbing his shot past the Bafana Bafana goalkeeper.
Great composure by Malajila all round and a worthy strike to win any football match.
In a tense match that was often end to end action, Chiefs had their moments but were often too erratic and lacked the composure needed to turn possession into goals.
Maritzburg United, who had not won away from home in the League up until Tuesday night, defended well and were organised on and off the ball, clearly showing the organisational stamp of coach Ernst Middendorp on the team.
From an early free kick in the third minute, United's skipper Kurt Lentjies struck the upright with his attempt. The ball got through the wall and dipped to beat Itumeleng Khune's reach and hit the base of the near post.
In the 19th minute Maritzburg United felt they had a penalty decision worth shouting for turned down.
Felix Obada got forward on the right and when he sent in his cross, it seemed as if the ball struck Tefu Mashamaite's hand or face. While Maritzburg felt it was his hand, referee Damon was not interested.
Three minutes later, Lentjies broke out with pace and sent an excellent through ball to Malajila who got into space, but his touch to try and go around the last man was too heavy. Khune came off his line bravely and smothered the danger.
Chiefs' best chance of the opening half came when Abia Nale cut in from the right, pulled the ball onto his left foot and cranked in a shot from distance, which dipped dangerously, but was tipped onto the bar by Shuaib Walters.
It took ten minutes into the second half for Chiefs to really create a proper scoring chance after they came out with much more purpose after the break.
But when Nale got the ball in space on the right side of the danger area, the former Golden Arrows player could not make use of the opportunity and a defender got back to block off his shot.
In the 62nd minute Chiefs also had a penalty decision turned down, a similar one to what Maritzburg had in the first half.
Parker fired in a first time shot from Nale's cross only to see Peter Petersen throw his body in the way and the ball slammed into his hand on its way goalwards.
Both penalty shouts were worth the appeal and both teams will feel they could easily have been given a penalty in these situations.
In the end the visitors put the ball into the back of the net, something the home side just could not do.
Kaizer Chiefs 0
Maritzburg United 1 (Malajila 74')
TEAMS
Chiefs: Khune; Tau, Isaacs, Mashamaite, Jambo; Nale (Masango 76'), Katsande, Baloyi, Tshabalala; Parker (Lebese 78'), Majoro (Ngcobo 59')
Maritzburg: Walters; Petersen, Booysen, Diouf, De Jong; Obada, Madondo (Poggenpoel 85'), Hendricks, Mathuka (Davids 71'), Lentjies; Malajila (Sibisi 88')
Source - Supersport
