Booysen finds late equaliser against Tuks
Mario Booysen grabbed a late equaliser for Maritzburg United after David Radebe had given the University of Pretoria an early lead in the second half on Sunday afternoon at Tuks Stadium. It was the Pretoria sides’ first ever outing in the Absa Premiership and it ended 1-1.
The major highlight of the first ten minutes of the match was a malicious tackle by Warren Bishop on Delron Buckley in the eighth minute which deserved a straight red card but the former AmaZulu player survived with only a caution shown by the referee.
The first half hour was dull as both sides lacked sustained periods of possession on the ball and shots from both sides went off target.
In the 32nd minute, Buckley was well positioned to put Maritzburg ahead, but after receiving a cross from the right side from Frank Sarfo Gyamfi he failed to score with his head after a tame attempt.
Buckley had another attempt at goal in the 42nd minute with a free-kick from 20-yards but his curling and dipping effort went over the bar. A minute later Michael Morton nearly scored the opening goal when he unleashed a low right-footed short from 35-yards which went wide of Tuks keeper Tristyn Coetsee.
The first 45 minutes ended in a dull 0-0 as hard tackles, pushing and shoving dominated the first stanza.
Tuks introduced veteran striker David Radebe at the immediate start of the second half to replace Botswana international Dipsy Selolwane and it took Radebe just six minutes to make his impact.
The former Kaizer Chiefs forward received a defence splitting pass from Sepeke Manamela and he outsprinted the Maritzburg backline to coolly slot home from 18-yards to make 1-0 in the 51st minute.
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That goal seemed to have inspired AmaTuks and their vocal supports as four minutes later Mpho Maruping found himself unmarked at the back post during a set piece floated into the box, but he saw his shot from close range parried away by Maritzburg keeper Shu-Aib Walters.
Tuks finished the match on a sour note with two minutes remaining Sepeke Manamela was sent off for a dangerous tackle from behind.
But there was more misery in store for Tuks as Booysen connected with a ball floated into the box and rose the highest to head home and give the visitors a dramatic late equaliser in the 92nd minute.
University of Pretoria (0) 1 (Radebe 51’)
Maritzburg United (0) 1 (Booysen 92’)
University of Pretoria: Coetsee, Bishop, Monyai, Mkhwanazi, Sibande, Matsi, Maruping, Selolwane (Radebe 46’), Manamela, Mosadi (Mphahlele 74’), Ngwenya (Sekotloung 87’)
Mariztburg United: Walters, Cloete, Petersen, M Booysen, Morton, Awal, Buckley, Sarfo Gyamfi (Zulu 77’), Yende, D Booysen (Smeekes 63’), Malajila
