Maritzburg United got their first win in the DStv Premiership with a slender 1-0 triumph over Baroka FC on Saturday evening.
New Maritzburg signing Amadou Soukouna made his debut and Ryan Rae earned a recall too, with Bakgaga Ba Ga Mphahlele missing Bafana Bafana international Evidence Makgopa.
The first blood came from the Team of Choice inside 15 minutes from kickoff after a through ball by Travis Graham picked up Richard Zumah, who rounded Oscarine Masuluke to slot home.
Maritzburg weren't done troubling the host and fancied a double over the midway point through the head of Bongokuhle Hlongwane from a deep-rooted free-kick by Alfred Ndengane.
A spell of momentum from the home side followed thereafter with Decide Chauke going inches close to the equaliser from a corner-kick and a snap close-range attempt.
The Team of Choice made a substitution at the resumption in Brandon Theron ahead of Rowan Human, whilst Baroka remained unchanged.
Maritzburg were reduced to ten players ten minutes from the restart after Hlongwane hacked down Tshepo Mokhabi near the danger area and such earned his marching orders.
The host upped momentum late in the encounter with a triple substitution in Thamsanqa Masiya, Joslin Kamatuka and Gerald Phiri Junior.
Kamatuka wasted no time to get stuck in just after entering and set-up chances for amongst others Richard Mbulu and Chauke, who were unable to proft
The playing personnel evened up five minutes to the end as Masia collected a second yellow and then a red card for a coming-together as Baroka were reduced to 10 men.
However, the Team of Choice managed to hold until the final whistle to grab their first win of the campaign to move off the foot of the table.
Confirmed line-ups:
Baroka: Masuluke, Mphahlele, Gebhardt, Sibiya, Mokhabi, Mbulu, Mgaga, Dlala, Chauke, Monama, Farmer.
Subs: Chipezeze, Seema, Makume, Goldstone, Phiri Jr, Kambala, Masiya, Shozi, Kamatuka.
Maritzburg: Engelhardt, Rae, Ndengane, Ismail, Kewuti Graham, Ntshangase, Human, B.Hlongwane, Zumah, Soukouna.
Subs: Petersen, Bhengu, Allie, Theron, Claasen, L.Hlongwane, Skelem.