Durban -
Mpho Maruping scored the only goal as league new boys University of Pretoria stunned Golden Arrows with a 1-0 victory at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Durban on Wednesday.
The breakthrough came via a glancing 38th minute header in an otherwise dull first half in which both side failed to get into gear.
However, Steve Barker's men went in front and stayed there after holding their shape impressively, with the result helping them build on their opening day home draw against Maritzburg United.
Arrows, meanwhile, slumped to a second successive loss after losing to Orlando Pirates in round one.
The first half was a poor affair as both sides battled to get a foothold in sweeping rain, with the home side taking 16 minutes for their first opening.
It came when Boitumelo Sekgobela burst down the left flank and picked out Philani Shange in the box, although visiting defender Buhle Mkwanazi closed down the shot and deflected it wide.
Midway through the half, Dipsy Selolwane created the first opening for AmaTuks when he shot from outside the box, but his attempt faded away to the right.
The opening goal came out of the blue seven minutes before the interval when defender Ramahlwe Mphahlele crossed from the right and Maruping nodded in from the centre of the box.
That stunned Abafana Bes'thende, although they failed to produce any response and went into the break trailing 1-0.
After the restart, Lionel Mutizwa fired a 25-yard free-kick straight at Pavels Steinbors in the Arrows goal, while at the other end Zwane’s cross was wastefully thumped over at the near post by Sekgobela.
Mkwanazi then should have hit the target for the men from Pretoria when he sent a rising shot over from eight yards out.
The pressure refused to let up for the home side with the determined visitors again coming close via Dumisani Ngwenya, who pushed the ball wide and shot inches wide.
Arrows finally managed to hit the target in the 75th minute, but Dillon Sheppard’s free-kick was saved by Washington Arubi in the AmaTuks goal, but it proved their last real chance as they remained pointless. - Sapa