Pretoria – A 10-men University of Pretoria outfit showed great resilience to hold on for a 1-0 Premiership win over Mariztburg United at the Tuks Stadium.
The seventh minute goal was a well-worked team effort as Grant Kekana provided the assist for Atusaye Nyondo to tap in from close range.
Vuyisile Ntombayithethi was send off near the half-hour mark which resulted in AmaTuks playing much of the encounter a man down.
In the 13th minute Vigil Vries had his reflexes tested with a low strike from Nyondo that the goalkeeper parried away from danger.
Mohammad Anas gave AmaTuks captain Tebogo Monyai a torrid time and that was exemplified in the 20th minute when the striker easily beat the defender in the box to unleash thunderbolt that went inches wide of goal.
After the near miss, Monyai's relief was short lived as moments later another Mohau Mokate made a blistering run into the box but his tame shot was comfortably saved by goalkeeper Washington Arubi.
AmaTuks went down to 10 men in the 28th minute when Ntombayithethi earned his second yellow card after a foul on Kurt Lentjies near the centre of the pitch.
On the left-flank Philani Zulu posed a threat for AmaTuks as he dribbled past two defenders before delivering a cross into the penalty box in the 36th minute that flew over the crossbar.
Nhlanhla Vilakazi looked to be the creative spark for United when his accurate through-ball found Anas on the edge of the box, who blasted the ball over the target.
The university club was unshaken by the surge of opposition attack and absorbed the pressure.
With a man down, the home side put in a courageous effort would hold on until the final whistle for the points. – Sapa