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Cape Town - Struggling SuperSport United won for the first time since November when they secured a 1-0 win over Maritzburg United in their Absa Premiership showdown at the Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday.
A barrage of early corners by Thabo Mnyamane really tested the Maritzburg rear-guard, but they dealt admirably with the threat.
The match was then played out as a cagey affair with most of the ball carried in the midfield.
Maritzburg’s first shot was a wayward one midway through the half as Siphesihke Ndlovu ballooned over following some good play by Deolin Mekoa down the left.
At the other end, Phala volleyed horribly over as the two sides lacked inspiration.
The best opening at either end arrived on the half-hour when Bandile Shandu swung over a cross from the right to Mekoa, who cut inside his man on the left and curled just over.
Five minutes before the break, Mekoa again fired over, this time further from the target though, as the home side pressed for the opener.
A break forward by SuperSport then resulted in Phala playing in Aubrey Modiba, but the cross-goal attempt was pushed just past the upright.
After the break, Mnyamane came agonisingly close to embarrassing Ofori when his cross sailed inches past the right upright with the Ghanaian left stranded.
Evans Rusike then had the first second-half chance for the Team of Choice, but dragged his attempt wide from distance.
Mohau Mokate was denied by a strong Reyaad Pieterse hand as the home side came closer.
However, after Ofori did well to hold on Modiba’s on-target shot, there was little he could do to prevent the same player scoring what turned out to be the winner.
Fortune Makaringe put Maritzburg’s best chance wide in the closing stages after a pinpoint Andrea Fileccia cross as the hosts were left disappointed.
