A Santos side very much on top of their game had few problems in overcoming Maritzburg United, easing to a 4-0 win at the Coetzenburg Stadium on Saturday night.

Santos were on top for most of the first half, at times playing some neat football, showing some slick combinations and inter-passing despite the insistent rain which poured down for the entire 90 minutes.

The home side were in control of the contest for nearly the entire match - indeed it was a well polished all round showing from Boebie Solomons' boys.

The People's Team took the lead with 20 minutes on the clock when Phikolethu Spelman broke down the left wing and squared the ball to Erwin Isaacs.

Maritzburg keeper Tasrique Goldman was able to block Isaacs' shot, but the ball fell kindly again for Spelman to net from close range.

The goal shocked the visiting side into action, but they enjoyed dominance for only a few minutes before Santos struck for the second time.

Spelman was again the goal-scorer, showing a cool head under pressure to steer the ball past Goldman from 20 yards out after the United keeper had gifted him the ball from a poor clearance.

Following that set-back, the Team of Choice looked rather subdued and Santos ended the half the stronger side, looking for a third goal, with Isaacs in particular unsettling the Maritzburg defence with a couple of half chances before the interval.

Maritzburg looked a better side after the restart as they tried to get back in to the match.

But the likes of Fadlu Davids and Byrone Hendricks were not able to bury the chances that came their way and the Cape side took advantage when they extended their lead in the 73rd minute, Ryan Chapman doing brilliantly to net from a tight angle on the right.

Just seconds before the final whistle Chapman raced on to a through ball, beating Goldman to the ball and slotting home in to an empty net to complete a memorable evening for the on-form Cape side.

Sapa

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