AmaZulu FC suffered a 2-0 defeat to champions Mamelodi Sundowns in the Betway Premiership match played at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Tuesday night.
As a result, Usuthu dropped to the seventh spot on the standings. Coach Arthur Zwane will be keen to ensure that AmaZulu bounce back to winning ways when they host TS Galaxy on Friday.
Usuthu were happy to sit back and play on the counterattack from the start. Veli Mothwa was called into action in the 16th minute and the experienced AmaZulu goalkeeper denied Jayden Adams.
Sundowns continued to push for the opening goal, but Mothwa was eager not to concede as the Bafana Bafana international saved an attempt from Iqraam Rayners in the 41st minute, and the score was 0-0 at half-time.
The defending champions exerted more pressure on Usuthu after the restart, and they finally broke the deadlock in the 51st minute when Peter Shalulile fired past Mothwa to make it 1-0 to Sundowns.
The hosts continued to launch attacks in the latter stages of the match and inspired substitute Arthur Sales sealed Sundowns’ 2-0 win in the 88th minute when he turned well in the box and fired past Mothwa.
Sundowns 2 (Shalulile 51′, Sales 88′)
AmaZulu 0
Sundowns: Wiliams, Mokoena, Kekana, Suarez, Modiba, Ribeiro (Morena 89′), Lungan (Sales 46′), Mudau, Adams (Cupido 89′), Rayners (Mkhulise 69′), Shalulile (Matthews 81′).
AmaZulu: Mothwa, Jooste (Radebe 62′), Hanamub, Fielies, Mthethwa, Mobara, Motshwari, Zungu, Kambindu (Sithole 81′), Moremi, Ekstein (Human 62′)
