AmaZulu FC fell to a narrow 1-0 loss at the hands of Stellenbosch FC in a Betway Premiership match played at the Danie Craven Stadium on Tuesday night.
The defeat is a fourth from Usuthu’s last five league matches, though they remained in seventh place and on course to finish in the top half of the table.
Stellenbosch suffered an early injury blow, with striker Ashley Cupido pulling up with a left hamstring issue which saw him replaced by Langelihle Phili in the 10th minute.
AmaZulu had the first chance of the match, with Elmo Kambindu heading wide from a corner kick in the 16th minute. The Namibian also saw a downward header from a Riaan Hanamub cross batted away by Stellenbosch goalkeeper Oscarine Masuluke in the 35th minute.
In between, the Cape hosts claimed the lead in the 29th minute, as Fawaaz Basadien’s corner kick eluded AmaZulu goalkeeper Richard Ofori and fell kindly for Sanele Barns at the back post – with the forward stabbing a shot into the back of the net from close range for 1-0.
AmaZulu were a goal down at the break, and early in the second half they would have been frustrated at missing out on a chance to level the game, as a goalkeeping mistake gifted a clear chance to Kambindu but he was unable to steer home a shot with the goal unguarded.
Usuthu sought a way back into the contest, and sent on the likes of Etiosa Ighodaro, Rowan Human and Tebogo Mashigo from the bench after the midway point of the second half.
Yet Stellenbosch had the next big chance to add to the score line, with Barns doing great work to create a chance for Khomotjo Lekoloane, but he was denied by a great save from Ofori to keep the visitors in the contest.
AmaZulu were unable to create any meaningful attacking pressure in the final minutes of the game, with Stellies able to hold out and secure their 10th league win of the season.
AmaZulu’s next match is a Durban derby away to Golden Arrows on Sunday 27 April.
Stellenbosch FC (1) 1 (Barns 29’)
AmaZulu FC 0
Stellenbosch: Masuluke, Godswill, Moloisane, Toure, Basadien, Khiba (Palace 65’), Jabaar, Lekoloane (Titus 77’), Barns, Nku (Nduli 65’), Cupido (Phili 10’ [De Jong 77’])
AmaZulu: Ofori, Sikhakhane, Mphahlele, Fielies, Hanamub, Zungu (Mbanjwa 85’), Motshwari, Thabede (Human 72’), Brooks (Ighodaro 65’), Moremi, Kambindu (Mashigo 72’)
