A goal from Khumbulani Banda handed Kaizer Chiefs their second loss in the 2014/15 Absa Premiership season after going down 1-0 to Maritzburg United in a league match at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Wednesday night.

It was a rather dull opening half with both teams squandering possession in the final third due to some poor passing or bad decision making which resulted in very few chances on goal.

Chiefs controlled the early possession stakes, but could not break down a well-organised Maritzburg defence.

Instead, the first opening on goal came at the other end of the park in the 17th minute after a mistake by Willard Katsande allowed Thamsanqa Mkhize to control a right wing cross on his chest, but he volleyed wide from six-yards out.

A minute later Chiefs had their first significant shot on goal when Siphelele Mthembu showed good strength on the edge of the box before turning and let rip, but his low effort went inches wide.

There were no more decent scoring chances in the remainder of the half as the sides entered the break al-square.

The second half saw Chiefs start the better of the two teams with a pin-point cross from Bernard Parker met by Tefu Mashamaite in the 52nd minute, but he headed over the target from close range.

Eight minutes later Parker worked himself into space on the edge of the Maritzburg box, but his low shot skimmed the wrong side of the post.

Substitute Khumbulani Banda changed the face of the game with his first touch in the 81st minute after he headed home a corner-kick to give Maritzburg the lead, 1-0.

Chiefs tried to get back into the match after that and came close in the 93rd minute when a 14-yard volley from Siboniso Gaxa struck the woodwork.

In the end it was not to be as Maritzburg walked away with the slender 1-0 win

Maritburg United (0) 1 (Banda 81’)

Kaizer Chiefs (0) 0

Teams:

Maritzburg United: Vries, Mabaso, P. Zulu, Mngonyama, Paintsil, De Jongh, Cele (Banda 80’), Mkhize, Anas (Mandaza 74’), Lentjies, Mekoa (Sekotlong 74’).

Kaizer Chiefs: Khune, Gaxa, Moleko, Mashamaite, Mathoho, Letsholonyane (Masango 72’), Katsande, Maluleka, Tshabalala, Parker, Mthembu (Rusike 64’).