Maritzburg United picked up their first win of the season in the DStv Premiership with a 2-1 victory over Chippa United on Saturday evening.
Maritzburg had Bongani Sam back from the goalless draw against Cape Town City and started Ismail Njoti, Thabo Moloisane and Friday Samu too, with Aviwe Mqokozo given his first start by Chippa.
John Maduka's men applied the early pressure and played numerous balls in behind that a certain Mqokozo were forced to clear and keep the game in the balance.
The Team of Choice lost a bit of momentum thereafter and allowed the visitors their first threat through a header by Etoisa Ighodaro following a ball in by Roscoe Pietersen.
Chippa maintained the decent spell and were ahead over ten minutes to halftime after Ighodaro turned home a delightful free-kick by Siphelele Luthuli.
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Maduka's men carved out a response on the stroke of halftime when Samu finished off a delivery from Karim Kimvuidi and gave the opposite number Loydt Kazapua no chance.
The first substitution happened on the side of Chippa just before the resumption, as Janovane September came on for Brooklyn Poggenpoel.
On the other hand, Maritzburg were close to hit the front with a shot from outside the box by Kimvuidi but the effort failed to trouble Kazapua.
Chippa launched a threat too a little later through a cross-cum shot by Ighodaro, but it was blocked away by Genino Palace.
At the other end, Samu were close to a brace with a smart header from an equally smart delivery by substitute Siboniso Conco but he missed before Macheke dragged a clear opening wide.
The Team of Choice snatched the winner at the death after Amadou Soukouna drilled home a supply from Leletu Skelem and led his outfit to their first win of the season.
Confirmed line-ups:
Maritzburg United: Ndlovu, Makume, Hlongwa, Njoti, Sam, Theron, Moloisane, Kimvuidi, Samu, Macheke, Palace.
Subs: Anye Derick, Ritchie, Soukouna, Zuma, Conco, Human, Kewuti, Baloyi, Skelem.
Chippa United: Kazapua, Banda, Pietersen, Poggenbpol, Matrose, Pfumbidzai, Kammies, Chabalala, Luthuli, Ighodaro, Mqokozo
Subs: Chaine, Cerfonteyn, September, Ntsabo, Mduli, Appollis, Mini, Maarman, Mbenyane