Santos beat Thanda

A first-half goal from Eleazar Rodgers gave Santos a 1-0 win over Thanda Royal Zulu in the opening promotion/relegation play-off match at the Richards Bay Sports Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
The National First Division side enjoyed a lively start to the game but were unable to make the most of their chances before Santos came into the game.
The vital moment arrived when Salmaan King scuffed a shot into the penalty area and Rodgers got a vital touch to divert the ball into the bottom corner.
The People's Team were creating the better chances and King flashed a shot just wide of the post before Rodgers nodded wide of the mark.
Nasief Morris would go even closer moments later when he got up to meet a corner and powered a header against the woodwork at the far post.
Thanda Royal Zulu tried to get back into the game in the final five minutes of the half, but besides a low cross across the face of goal which Dembo Touray had to palm away, the Santos goal was hardly troubled.
The hosts also suffered a blow with defender Sipho Made and winger Khumbulani Mdluli coming off injured.
The second-half saw Thanda Royal Zulu continue to play some lively and entertaining football but their inability to find a killer pass or cross meant that Santos were easily able to clear in defence.
The first real chance came from Tefo Xowana rifled a low shot at goal from outside the area which was stopped by Touray before Morris made a vital block after a goalmouth scramble in the 61st minute. The hosts tried to follow it up but it was blasted over the crossbar.
Thanda Royal Zulu were storming forward for most of the half and with around four minutes to go a diagonal pass was almost latched onto but Touray stood firm and it bounced of his legs and up into his gloves.
Dominic Isaacs enjoyed a rare chance for the Cape Town side with two minutes to go but it was well saved before Touray ensured that Santos claimed the spoils when a sublime stop to tip a fierce drive from Lehumo Itshegetseng around the post. Soccer-Laduma