Maritzburg United secured a 2-1 victory over Soweto giants Orlando Pirates at the Harry Gwala Stadium in the Absa Premiership on Tuesday evening.

The Team of Choice looked the better side in the opening exchanges of the match, forcing the Buccaneers to defend deep in their own half to avoid conceding an early goal.

The Buccaneers came close to opening the scoring in the 21st minute when Luvuyo Memela tried a shot from distance but his attempt at goal was blazed over the crossbar.

However, Maritzburg responded at the other end and thought they took the lead when Mokate found the back of the net but he judged to have been offside.

The Buccaneers had a great opportunity to break the deadlock in the 28th minute when Memela set up Issa Sarr but the midfielder guided his header over the bar.

Pirates should’ve taken the lead in the 34th minute when Mpho Makola picked out Happy Jele from a corner kick but his headed effort could only manage to rattle the woodwork.

After 45 minutes of play, the match went into the half time interval locked at 0-0 as neither side could convert their chances in the final third.

However, three minutes into the second half and the Team of Choice broke the deadlock when Deolin Mekoa cut the ball back for Bevan Fransman, who put the ball into the back of the net from close range.

Bafana Bafana midfielder Mekoa came close to doubling his side’s lead after trying his luck from the edge of the box but his strike at goal went just wide of the target.

United did eventually double their lead in the 68th minute when Mekoa set up defender Brian Onyango to score his side’s second goal of the match to make it 2-0.

In the 83rd minute, the Buccaneers reduced the deficit to one goal when substitute Ayanda Nkosi fired the ball into the far corner to beat the United goalkeeper to make it 2-1.

However, Maritzburg United held on to their 2-1 lead over Orlando Pirates until the final whistle to collect all three points at home.

Image: Gerhard Duraan/BackpagePix