Wome stars for Free State Stars
A goal four minutes from time from Dove Wome handed Free State Stars a deserved 1-0 win over Maritzburg United in an Absa Premiership match at the Charles Mopeli Stadium on Wednesday night.
The opening stages of the first 45 saw Maritzburg United playing the better football as Dillion Sheppard let fly from long range in the fifth minute, but his shot sailed narrowly wide of the target.
Following that, however, it was the home side that took charge of the match and created the best chances on goal.
Daniel Cardoso was the first to threaten the United goal in the 13th minute, but his effort from roughly 30-yards skimmed the top side of the crossbar.
Eleven minutes later and Noah Chivuta also tried his luck from distance, but like his Free State teammate he shot over the target.
In the 33rd minute Sadat Ouro-Akoriko had the best chance of the half when he was allowed a free header inside the Maritzburg box, but he headed his attempt wide with the goal at his mercy.
Three minutes later only the brilliance of Shu-Aib Walters kept the scores level as the United keeper produced a fine save, diving full stretch to his right, to deny Danny Venter a goal from 25-yards out as the half ended all square.
The second 45 saw Stars start where they left off as Venter forced Walters into another fine save six minutes after the restart. Venter let fly from the edge of the box, but Walters was on hand with an acrobatic save to deny him.
United’s first shot of the second half came in the 58th minute, but it was a timid attempt from Mthokozisi Yende as Tshepo Motsoeneng produced a comfortable save.
Ten minutes later and Stars suffered a slight set-back as their keeper, Motsoeneng, had to be replaced by Kennedy Mweene due to injury.
That seemed to take a bit of the sting out of the game as neither side was really able to create a clear-cut chance on goal until Dove Wome gave Free State the lead in the 86th minute, and consequently the three points from an expertly struck free-kick that found the bottom left-hand corner of the goal, 1-0.
Free State Stars (0) 1 (Wome 86’)
Maritzburg United (0) 0
Teams:
Free State Stars: Motsoeneng (Mweene 69’); Cardoso, Sambu, Wiltwe, Masehe, Akoriko, Venter, Kerspuy, Nomandela (Mkhatshwa 83’), Chivuta (Wome 63’), Lemessa
Maritzburg United: Walters; Petersen, Awal, Booysen M, Evans, De Jong (Mandaza 88’) , Booysen D, Sheppard (Mathuka 59’), Buckley, Yende, Malajila (Zulu 71’)
