SANTOS avoided stepping on a potential banana peel when they tiptoed 1-0 past Thanda Royal Zulu in Richards Bay in the first Premier Soccer League promotion play-off match yesterday.
Eleazar Rodgers, who was requested by his club to withdraw from the Bafana Bafana setup this week, struck from close range in the 12th minute to score the only goal of the match.
The play-offs represent the Cape Town side's last chance to stay in the top flight. They finished 15th on the log after a torrid season during which they lost 17 games out of 30, the most of any PSL team.
The Neil Tovey-coached Thanda Royal Zulu dominated much of the possession, created the most menacing attacking plays and didn't let their Premier League opposition settle into a passing rhythm.
Santos were as tentative as they have been all season. For much of the encounter they defended the one-goal lead they would have surely lost if Royal Zulu had more competent finishers.
Santos goalkeeper Dembo Touray had to save twice in the final five minutes of the game and pull some time-wasting stunts to prevent plucky Royal Zulu, who finished third in the National First Division, from stealing a draw.
This year's play-offs will be contested by three teams instead of the usual four. According to the new rules, each team plays the other twice, at home and away, and the one with the most points will play in the PSL next season.
Santos edge Royal Zulu
SANTOS avoided stepping on a potential banana peel when they tiptoed 1-0 past Thanda Royal Zulu in Richards Bay in the first Premier Soccer League promotion play-off match yesterday.
Eleazar Rodgers, who was requested by his club to withdraw from the Bafana Bafana setup this week, struck from close range in the 12th minute to score the only goal of the match.
The play-offs represent the Cape Town side's last chance to stay in the top flight. They finished 15th on the log after a torrid season during which they lost 17 games out of 30, the most of any PSL team.
The Neil Tovey-coached Thanda Royal Zulu dominated much of the possession, created the most menacing attacking plays and didn't let their Premier League opposition settle into a passing rhythm.
Santos were as tentative as they have been all season. For much of the encounter they defended the one-goal lead they would have surely lost if Royal Zulu had more competent finishers.
Santos goalkeeper Dembo Touray had to save twice in the final five minutes of the game and pull some time-wasting stunts to prevent plucky Royal Zulu, who finished third in the National First Division, from stealing a draw.
This year's play-offs will be contested by three teams instead of the usual four. According to the new rules, each team plays the other twice, at home and away, and the one with the most points will play in the PSL next season.
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