It was a game of two halves as Maritzburg United and Free State Stars played to a 1-1 draw in an Absa Premiership match at the Woodburn Stadium on Saturday night.

The 'Team of Choice' were by far the superior side in the first half and completely controlled the midfield battle. They were justly rewarded for their dominance when Brice Aka put them in front in the 28th minute.

The second half saw Stars come out of their shell and applying a mountain of pressure on the United goal. It did not look like they would find the equaliser but then, six minutes from time, they were awarded a spot kick. Duncan Lechesa made no mistake from 12 yards out and saw his team to the draw.

The first 20 minutes of the match were a bit scrappy with neither team really taking control of the match and both were trying to find their footing. United were the first to settle and hence the first real chance on goal came in the 21st minute.

Fadlu Davids pulled the best out of the Stars? keeper Kennedy Mweene when he curled a beautiful 20 yard free-kick around the defensive wall and towards goal, but Mweene was at hand diving full stretch to his right to tip the effort around the post.

United then proceeded to find the breakthrough in the 28th minute when Brice Aka concluded a great passing movement. The move started in United?s own half and finished with Aka firing home from only six yards into the bottom left of the goal, 1-0.

Stars continued to find themselves on the back foot and consequently their coach, Themba Sithole, felt obliged to change things up, making two early tactical substitutions in the 36th and 37th minute. Tshegofatso Mashego was replaced by Kingston Nkhatha while Sanale Mabaso was replaced by Professor Ramoraswi.

Free State tried to rally themselves back into the game in the second half which saw them take numerous long range shots on goal, but with very little success.

Ramoraswi did come close for Stars in the 60th minute when his 25 yard shot saw Tashrique Goldman produce a superb save. The Free State substitute fired a powerful shot goal-wards and it looked a certain goal, but Goldman had other ideas diving full stretch to his right to deny the 'Ea Lla Koto man.

Davids should have put the game beyond doubt four minutes later when he had a free header inside the six-yard box, but he squandered the chance heading well wide of the target.

Free State continued to press forward and were rewarded for their efforts when the referee awarded them a penalty in the 84th minute after Mor Diouf appeared to pull down Nkhatha inside the box. Duncan Lechesa made no mistake from the spot firing his team level, 1-1.

Although Stars were made to sweat, a draw was a fair result on the night. Both teams would have been happy to wake away with a share of the spoils.

The teams:

Maritzburg United: (4-4-2) Goldman; Dikilu, Diouf, Ngwepe, Petersen; Badian, Chivuta (Smith 74), Phakathi, Obada; Davids (Nyatama 67), Aka (Madidilani 81).

Platinum Stars: (4-4-2) Mweene; Mashego (Nkhatha 36), Mensah, Costa Marinho, Taailbos; Lechesa, Mdluli, Moholo, Mabaso (Ramoraswi 37); Makola, Mofokeng (Ngcobo 66).