David Radebe’s early goal in the second half for the University of Pretoria was cruelly cancelled out by a late Mario Booysen header in the 92nd minute as Maritzburg United stole a point in an Absa Premiership played on Sunday afternoon at the Tuks Stadium.
The match got off to a sour note inside the first ten minutes after Tuks defender Warren Bishop escaped a sending off offence when his dangerous lunge on Delron Buckley, which had both benches on their feet, received only a yellow card.
In the 32nd minute the visitors had their first real chance at goal when 72 cap former Bafana Bafana international Buckley was well positioned to open his PSL account when he received a cross from the right side from Frank Sarfo Gyamfi but he failed to score with his head after a tame attempt.
But Buckley soon had a chance to atone for his missed chance ten minutes earlier with a free-kick from 20-yards but his curling and dipping effort went over the bar.
The first half concluded in a stalemate as hard tackles, pushing and shoving dominated the first 45 minutes.
In the start of the second half Tuks instantly brought on veteran striker David Radebe to replace Botswana international Dipsy Selolwane and it took him 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.
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.
The men from Pietermaritzburg kept attacking the rookies and were punished late in the second half when 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.
AmaTuks finished the match with ten men after Sepeke Manamela was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Buckley from behind with only two minutes remaining.
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 – BackpageTxt