An impressive display by Free State Stars, scoring four goals, saw the Ea Lla Koto end Maritzburg United’s five game unbeaten run in the Absa Premiership match at the Charles Mopeli Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The home side ran out 4-1 winners in a match they never looked like losing despite going behind through an own goal by Katlego Mashego in the 32nd minute.
Still, despite going behind, very much against the run of play, Stars were always the superior team on the field and they showed that dominance pulling themselves level seven minutes after going behind.
Mpho Makola scored his first of two goals on the day with a clinical finish from 12-yards out to equalise for his side and take them into the half time break on level terms.
The second 45 saw Free State continue to dominate and it was only a matter of time before they took the lead, the goal coming in the 65th minute.
Ayanda Gcaba scored the goal after latching onto an Edward Manqele header which had rebounded of the crossbar and fell into his path. Gcaba snatched at the loose ball, firing it into the back of net from six-yards out, 2-1.
Makola scored the goal of the match in the 79th minute with a 30-yard thunderbolt that found the bottom right-hand corner of the net, 3-1.
The result was put beyond doubt six minutes from time when extended pressure resulted in the games second own goal, Michael Morton finding the back of his own net to hand Stars the three points, 4-1.
The victory sees Stars extend their unbeaten run in the league to five games.
Free State Stars (1) 4 (Makola 39’ + 79’, Gcaba 65’, Morton 84’ og.)
Maritzburg United (1) 1 (Mashego 32’ og.)
Teams:
Stars: Mweene; Mashego, Gcaba, Ouro-Akoriko, Gege, Masehe, Coetzee, Makola, Mashaba (Brown 89’), Chivuta (Gumede 85’), Manqele (Morou 85’)
United: Walters; Diouf, Evans, Booysen, De Jong, Morton, Madondo (Obada 46’), Matle (Ncubeni 73’), Matuka (Davids 66’), Lentjies, Sibisi – Backpage Media