Aces beat Winners Park in Nedbank Cup
Maleka sends Aces through
Posted: May 2 2010
Mpho Maleka’s first-half strike against Winners Park was enough to send Mpumalanga Black Aces through to the quarters of the Nedbank Cup.
Aces were wasteful in front of goal and if Park had been more clinical in attack the game could have had a different outcome.
The visiting side dominated most of the first half, with chances for Winners Park few and far between.
With Winner’s Park goal keeper Makweni Mayala looking shaky in goal, it seemed only a matter of time before the Premiership side would take the lead.
Maleka wasted an eighth minute chance when he headed over the bar from Thomrick October’s cross, while 10 minutes later Clifford Mulenga missed an even easier opportunity when he ballooned a shot over the bar.
Park did have a chance in the 14th minute but Percy Masela could find neither power nor accuracy with his header.
When a 25th minute free kick was not properly cleared, Aces’ Lindokhule Mbatha bravely won a vital header just outside the area which saw the ball falling to Maleka inside the Park box.
Maleka has been in sensational scoring form for the Witbank side recently and he made no mistake as he sent a left footed shot past Mayala and into the back of the net.
Eight minutes later Maleka looked set to make it 2-0 when he burst clean through on goal, but a quite outstanding tackle from Park centre back Mashiane Phadu saved the day for the hosts.
The home team had two chances just before the break, but Michael Mulaudzi’s free kick was saved by Chad Harpur while Samuel Ramosoeu’s angled shot was marginally off target.
It was the home side who enjoyed more of the play in the second stanza although in the 59th minute Madoda Motha’s shot brought out a smart save from Mayala at the near post.
Mulenga should have wrapped things up for AmaZayoni in the 71st minute, but he was unable to reach Maleka’s tempting cross.
Park gave it their all in the closing stages of the game, but just could not find a way to unlock the Aces defence as the Witbank side held on to record a slender victory.
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