Goals from Siyabonga Nomvethe and Mabhuti Khenyeza saw AmaZulu upset Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday evening, writes MARSHALL GOUTS.
Masandawana headed into the game on the back of a 2-1 loss against Kaiser Chiefs. Pitso Mosimane made a number of changes to the squad, with Brimah Razak, Fares Hachi and Thokozani Sekotlong handed starting berths.
Usuthu went into the game on the back of a 3-2 loss against Polokwane City.
The rain and windy conditions didn’t make for the easiest of the games, but it was Sundowns who got off to a bright start with Oupa Manyisa’s defence-splitting pass finding Sekotlong in the area, but the striker failed to get on to the end of the pass.
Masandawana broke the deadlock in the seventh minute when a fine combination of play resulted in Hachi cutting the ball across to Sekotlong in the area and the striker, this time making no mistake to make it 1-0.
Sundowns dominated proceedings and continued to make inroads in search of a second. The home side thought they had doubled their advantage in the 37th minute when Percy Tau slotted the ball in the back of the net, but the referee adjudged him to have been in an offside position.
Manyisa displayed his excellent passing range with a crisp long ball to pick out Hachi, but the defender fired his low effort straight into the hands of the goalkeeper.
George Lebese was introduced for Themba Zwane in the 65th minute as Mosimane’s side upped their efforts at finding a second.
A timely intervention from goalkeeper Pule ensured that Tau wasn’t afforded a one-on-one opportunity after a fine pass by Hlompho Kekana.
AmaZulu should have equalised matters in the 68th minute when a defence-splitting pass from Samuel Darpoh found Mhlengi Cele in the area, but his finish lacked the direction.
Sekotlong made way for midfielder Lucky Mohomi as Sundowns looked to consolidate their lead, while Rhulani Manzini made way for Siyabonga Nomvete for the visitors.
The latter substitution almost immediately paid dividends as Razak was forced into making a fine save from the 39-year-old, but Nomvethe was not to be denied a minute later as he bundled home from a goal-mouth scramble.
Mosimane opted for his final roll of the dice, with eight minutes remaining as Leonardo Castro made way for Oupa Manyisa.
Sundowns were denied a penalty shout in the 85th minute when Pule appeared to bundle Castro in the area.
Mabhuti Khenyeza took advantage of poor goal-keeping by Razak as he netted after the shot-stopper came out of his area.
Usuthu held on to their one-goal lead to register a shock victory against Sundowns.
In other Absa Premiership action:
Free State Stars played to a 1-1 draw against Platinum Stars at Goble Park
Ajax Cape Town defeated Bloemfontein Celtic 2-1 at Athlone Stadium.
Photo: Samuel Shivambu/Backpagepix
-This story originally appeared on SportsClub.co.za
