Maritzburg grab maximum points in PMB
3-1 was scoreline at the Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg last night. Right-back Evans thumped in after six minutes, before timing his run superbly to head in a corner kick in the 21st minute.
On-loan Bidvest Wits midfielder Jayiya then netted with a 20-yard free-kick with substitute Danny Venter and a Michael Morton own goal setting up a tense finish.
However, the Team of Choice held on for three points that kept them 13th on the Premiership table, with a result that also ended a run of six losses in their last seven games against the Free Staters, who stayed second bottom.
Home coach Steve Komphela was up against his former club and saw his team make a great start with a penalty appeal inside the opening 90 seconds when goalkeeper Tshepo Motsoeneng appeared to bring down Frank Sarfo-Gyamfi in the box, although referee Phillip Tinyani felt otherwise.
But United had their reward not long after when a corner from the Ghanaian youngster was floated in from the right and flicked on by Robyn Johannes to the back post, where Evans smashed in left-footed.
The lead could have been doubled minutes later when Orlando Smeekes caused havoc in attack with his pace, forcing Motsoeneng to dash off his line, before a shot by the striker was cleared on the line by Sadat Ouro-Akoriko.
On-loan Mamelodi Sundowns striker Richard Henyekane had a great one-on-one chance to draw level after 14 minutes when he was played through by an exquisite Paulus Masehe ball, although the effort was superbly saved by Shuaib Walters spreading his body.
The Team of Choice made them pay instantly for that miss as Jayiya's corner from the left was met by a well-timed Evans header at the back post. Henyekane missed another golden one-on-one chance before the half-hour when he sprung the off-side trap and dragged inches wide.
After Masehe's saw another effort deflected wide, Henyekane drew a second blinding save from Walters with a free-kick from the left that forced the unsighted keeper to parry away at the last second.
Moments before the break, Daniel Cardoso cleared on the line from Jayiya following a darting run and cross by Smeekes on the left.
The next opening came just on the hour mark when Sarfo-Gyamfi inexplicably shot wide after an error at the back left him alone with Motsoeneng in the box.
With 23 minutes to play there was a scuffle between both sets of players following a late challenge by Angelo Kerspuy on Sarfo-Gyamfi 20 yards out and the resulting free-kick was brilliantly curled into the top corner by Jayiya.
Replacement Venter then wrong-footed Walters with a wickedly deflected shot, before a Henyakane corner was nodded into his own net by Morton as United held on.
(File photo:Gallo images)