CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – JUNE 03: Michael Morton and team mates of Cape Town Spurs celebrate after scoring a goal during the PSL promotion playoff match between Cape Town Spurs and Maritzburg United at Athlone Stadium on June 03, 2023 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images)
Cape Town Spurs moved top of the promotion play-off table after defeating Maritzburg United 1-0 at Athlone Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
PSL Promotion Play-Offs
Result: Cape Town Spurs 1-0 Maritzburg United
Date: 03 June 2023
Venue: Athlone Stadium
Maritzburg made two changes to the side that beat Casric Stars in midweek, as Jose Ali Meza and Amadou Soukouna were recalled in place of Friday Samu and Karim Kimvuidi. Spurs, meanwhile, were without striker Boitumelo Radiopane, on loan from Orlando Pirates, as the only alteration from their narrow win over Casric a week ago and in came Therlo Moosa.
The game got off to a lively start and the home side took their first opportunity on 16 minutes after Michael Morton opened the scoring with a low strike into an empty net after goalkeeper Renaldo Leaner failed to collect a cross.
Maritzburg looked to get back into the game four minutes later as Rowan Human had a low strike on the edge of the box that dragged just wide.
Fadlu Davids’ charges continued to have the momentum going forward and Soukouna had a good chance ten minutes before the interval after an inviting cross by Brandon Theron but he guided his first-time shot wide.
The Team of Choice needed a positive start coming from the break but they still could not get chances in the last third and Davids made a tactical change just before the hour-mark, as defender Wayde Jooste replaced attacker Meza.
Bartlett reacted with a tactical and attacking change, as Mamelodi Sundowns loanee Luvuyo Phewa replaced goal-scorer Morton.
Spurs had spaces on the break and Phewa almost doubled their lead with 15 minutes to go after his strike in the box was saved by Leaner after he was teed up by Moosa.
The hosts continued to have better opportunities on counter-attacks as Ashley Cupido was unfortunate not to kill off the game five minutes later with a strike in the box that hit the woodwork.
United reinforced their attack in the dying minutes with the introduction of Pirates loanee Kwame Peprah in place of defender Bradley Cross and Peprah almost got the equaliser within a minute on the pitch with a header that missed narrowly wide.
However, Spurs managed the game by pressing high and clinched a narrow win that saw them open a three-point lead over Maritzburg at the top of the mini-log.
The Mother City club will be next in action again when they host Casric on Wednesday afternoon.
Here’s how they lined up:
Cape Town Spurs: Vyer, Allie, Dortley, Daniels, Brown, Nel, Cupido, Morton, Moosa, Moroole, Velebayi
Subs: Dlamini, Butsaka, Bern, Stander, Scott, Finck, Phewa, Ryan, Petersen
Maritzburg United: Learner, De Goede, Theron, Njoti, Graham, Cross, Makume, Soukouna, Palace, Human, Meza
Subs: Langa, Ritchie, Peprah, Moloisane, Kimvuidi, Tlolane, Bhengu, Samu, Jooste
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