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Veteran midfielder Delron Buckley scored a brace to help Maritzburg United beat Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 in an Absa Premiership match at Atteridgevilles Lucas Moripe Stadium yesterday.
Veteran midfielder Delron Buckley scored a brace to help Maritzburg United beat Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 in an Absa Premiership match at Atteridgeville’s Lucas Moripe Stadium yesterday.
The win for the Team of Choice has increased the pressure on Sundowns coach Johan Neeskens.
The Brazilians have now gone three matches without a win, losing also to Kaizer Chiefs and Moroka Swallows in the MTN8 Cup second leg semi-finals last week, and fans are calling for the Dutch-born coach to be sacked.
Sundowns fans are particularly angry that Neeskens left Tebogo Langeman, Elias Pelembe and the hard-working Esrom Nyandoro on the bench. Pelembe changed the match when he was introduced in the second half.
United started the match on a positive note and striker Cuthbert Malajila missed a scoring chance only 30 seconds into the match after outpacing Sundowns and Bafana Bafana defender Punch Masenamela, but his shot, with only goalkeeper Wayne Sandiland to beat, went wide.
The home side dominated ball possession in the first half, but United had many scoring chances. Malajila played a big role in helping United pick up the three crucial points, setting up both goals for the former Bafana Bafana star.
Sundowns defender Clayton Daniels nearly scored an own goal in the 40th minute when his attempt to clear the ball went wide, with Sandilands beaten.
United continued where they left off in the second half, and went on the attack. Buckley opened the lead in the 70th minute with a fine effort after a clever ball by Malajila. The 34-year-old scored his second goal four minutes later from another beautiful period of play by Malajila. Mushekwi scored a consolation goal for Sundowns in the referee’s added time.
Sundowns are 10th on the league table with three points from three matches, while United have been enjoying a good start to the new season and are third with seven points – the same as leaders Chiefs and second-placed Free State Stars.
