Tuks stun Arrrows for first win
University of Pretoria recorded their first win in the Absa Premiership when they defeated Lamontville Golden Arrows 1-0 at the Cedric Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium on Wednesday night.
Mpho Maruping scored the only goal of the match in the first half to hand his side a hard-fought victory.
Arrows created the first chance of the match in the 8th minute when new man Boitumelo Sekgobela beat his marker on the left before playing the ball across to find Philani Shange at the far post, but his shot was deflected wide for a corner by a defender.
The hosts continued to dominate in the ball possession stakes but failed to get past the organised AmaTuks defence and it was the visitors who fashioned the next shooting chance in the 17th minute, only for Lionel Mutizwa to curl his shot wide from just outside the penalty area.
Steve Barker’s men continued to shoot on sight of goal and in the 21st minute Dipsy Selolwane fired his low shot wide of the the upright, while Dumisani Ngwenya shot straight at goalkeeper Pavels Steinbors seven minutes later.
AmaTuks eventually opened the scoring in the 37th minute as Mpho Maruping headed past a diving Steinbors, connecting with a cross from Mpho Matsi to hand his side the advantage just before the break.
The lead was almost doubled a minute into the second half when Ritus Krjauklis was caught in possession on the left side, allowing Selolwane to have a clear path to the box, but his blushes were saved by a desperate tackle from Souleymane Keita.
The second half continued in the same vain as the first with Arrows hogging the ball but lacking the creativity to get past the defence and they were almost punished again in the 70th minute as Ngwenya was offered room to shoot on the right side of the box, but his powerful strike went wide of the target.
Muhsin Ertugral's men then had a chance to level matters in the 73rd minute as they were awarded a freekick about 25 yards out; Dillon Sheppard managed to get the ball through the wall but none of his teammates were able to capitalise when goalkeeper Washington Arubi fumbled the ball.
The home side continued to launch attack after attack and even sacrificed a defender for an attacker in the last ten minutes, but AmaTuks managed to keep their shape at the back.
Lamontville Golden Arrows 0
University of Pretoria (1) 1 (Maruping 37')
TEAMS
Arrows: Steinbors; Hadebe (Tom 46'), Zwane, Bilankulu, Krjauklis (Ogle 82'); Shange, Sheppard, Keita, Khuboni; Lewis, Sekgobela
Tuks: Arubi; Shoyisa, Mphahlele, Selolwane (Sibisi 90+3'), Sekotlong (Zungu 81'); Matsi, Mutizwa, Mkwanazi, Ngwenya (Niang 76'); Maruping, Sibande
