University of Pretoria secured a 2-0 home win over Mpumalanga Black Aces in the teams’ final Absa Premiership match of 2013.
The encounter at Tuks Stadium on Sunday afternoon saw the home side surge to victory thanks to second half goals from Atusaye Nyondo and Thabo Mosadi.
Tuks striker Geoffrey Massa threatened a goal in the early minutes, first sending a shot on target direct from a free kick which was easily saved by Bafana Nhlapo, before heading just wide of the mark from an Atusaye Nyondo cross.
On 15 minutes Onyekachi Okonkwo had the visitors’ first shot in anger, but sent his long range effort wide of Washington Arubi’s goalposts.
Massa threatened again midway through the second half, but couldn’t get the better of Nhlapo, while his teammate Khethukuthula Zwane also tested the goalkeeper from long range, though to no avail.
A couple of minutes before the half time break, Clifford Mulenga thought he had a great opening to get away a shot on target, but he was quickly denied by an excellent block from Tuks defender Tebogo Monyai.
Six minutes into the second half Okonkwo forced Arubi into a punching save with a well-hit shot, while a few moments later Zwane sent an effort wide of the target as the teams continued to trade attacks.
On 57 minutes Mulenga was brought down by Mkhwanazi just outside the box. The Zambian attacker sent a fine shot on target from the set piece, but Arubi pulled off an excellent finger-tip save to keep the scores level.
Just past the hour mark Tuks sent on Thabo Mosadi as a substitute, and the replacement had an immediate impact, providing the assist for Atusaye Nyondo to beat Nhlapo with a right-footed effort and put the home side 1-0 up.
Nyondo almost doubled the lead with 20 minutes to play, but Nhlapo came up with a diving save. However, there was nothing the goalkeeper could do to deny Mosadi in the 75th minute, with the substitute capitalising on an assist from Nyondo to make it 2-0.
University of Pretoria (0) 2 (Nyondo 62’, Mosadi 75’)
Mpumalanga Black Aces 0
U Pretoria: Arubi, Monyai, Mkhwanazi, Kekana, Moussono-Moussono, Ngubane (Selolwane 86’), Zwane, Matsi, Ketjijere, Nyondo (Maruping 81’), Massa (Mosadi 61’)
Aces: Nhlapo, Mabaso, Mabizela, Nato, Kobola (Lebyane 80’), Ngalo, Zuke, Zwane, Nale (Qalinge 70’), Okonkwo, Mulenga (Masina 69’) – Backpage Media