Highlands Park claim home win against Maritzburg United

Through veteran Surprise Moriri's intervention, Highlands Park held their nerve to record an important 1-0 win over Maritzburg United. It was only their fourth victory of what has been a forgettable campaign for the Lions of the North.

The magnitude of the win was not lost on the sizeable crowd who packed into the match-box shaped stadium.

Having gone into the game under pressure after Baroka FC's 2-all draw with Kaizer Chiefs in Polokwane on Saturday evening, they have opened a five-point gap and moved out of the two relegations spots with 20 points. Free State Stars replace them at 15th place even though they have a four-point gap over Baroka.

Moriri saved Charlton Mashumba's blushes with a pinpoint 24th minute header from a Lindokuhle Mbatha corner.

A minute earlier, Mbatha had put in an excellent cross that Mashumba inexplicably could not connect with despite only having Roger de Sa to beat.

After absorbing the early pressure exerted by the visitors, it was the necessary riposte and the lesson in terms of how to take your opportunities.

The first 20 minutes were owned by Roger de Sa's side, who played against the wind but could not force Tapuwa Kapini into a meaningful save.

While they had the pace and the guile to get around Highlands' back four, their finishing left a lot to be desired.

Had Peter Shalulile and Siyabonga Nhlapo done better with their attempts towards the end of the first half, they could have wrapped up the game. Maritzburg's first half impotency in front of goal was never going to improve if they were three goals down.

The midfield chess match continued well into the second half as the sides took advantage of Chris Harrison's leniency when it came to tackles.

While he handed out two yellow cards to Maritzburg's Sheldon van Wyk and Highlands' Siyabonga Nhlapo, Harrison could not stamp his authority and the players were aware of this.

Chances were few and far between as the game entered it's torpidity stage. Only Mashumba's 64th minute chance and Kwanda Mngonyama's 74th minute chance came close to scaring the respective goalkeepers.

With a tendency of conceding late goals, Kapini was forced to make a superb 87th minute save from a Van Wyk snapshot after his defence was burnt by a scathing Maritzburg counter attack. - TMG Sport