AmaZulu FC were narrowly beaten 2-1 by Chippa United in the Betway Premiership match played at the Buffalo City Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Despite the defeat, Usuthu remained seventh in the standings and coach Arthur Zwane will be determined to ensure that Usuthu return to winning ways when they host Richards Bay on 4 April in another league encounter.
The Chilli Boys got off to a great start and they broke the deadlock in the 19th minute through Enock Sakala, who scored to hand Chippa a 1-0 lead. The 22-year-old Zambian attacker was scoring on his full debut for the Eastern Cape side.
The home side then pushed for another goal and they got it six minutes after the half-hour mark. Aviwe Mqokozo set up Craig Martin, who hit the back of the net to make it 2-0 to Chippa and it was the former Orlando Pirates star’s second goal of the season.
However, the Chilli Boys lost concentration at the back in the 44th minute and Rowan Human found Tshepang Moremi, who netted his fourth goal of the campaign to make it 2-1, heading into the half-time break in East London.
Usuthu pushed for the equalising goal after the restart, with Hendrick Ekstein forcing goalkeeper Darren Johnson into making a save in the 63rd minute. Chippa then held on to their slender lead and ultimately emerged as 2-1 winners.
Chippa (2) 2 (Sakala 19′, Martin 36′)
AmaZulu (1) 1 (Moremi 44′)
Chippa: Johnson, Ndlovu, Makhele, Chabalala, Ntsabo, Konqobe (Sithole 63′), Kammies, Philander (Molaoa 69′), Mqokozo (Tyongwana 46′), Martin (Modise 46′), Sakala (Maarman 46′)
AmaZulu: Mothwa, Jooste, Hanamub (Mngonyama 88′), Mthethwa, Fielies, Ekstein (Ighodaro 64′), Brooks (Ngobeni 88′), Moremi, Motshwari (Mbanjwa 85′), Kambindu, Human
