AmaZulu were defeated 3-0 by Mamelodi Sundowns at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in the DStv Premiership on Tuesday evening. A hat-trick scored by Lucas Ribeiro inspired the home team to victory in Pretoria.
Usuthu had their fair share of chances in the game but failed to capitalise as Ronwen Williams saved the team’s closest chance from Augustine Mulenga in the last 20 minutes of the fixture.
Sundowns kept the majority of the possession and increased their gap at the top of the DStv Premiership to 12 points.
Following the game, in his post-match interview with SuperSport, coach Pablo Franco Martin maintained that he was satisfied with how Usuthu played.
“I think if we take the positive things, the way we competed in the first half, this can help us to grow a little bit more,” said Franco Martin.
“This team still competes and tries until the end, we are going to keep improving for sure. We need to just focus 100% on the things we need to do as a team and go back to the good results, hopefully next Tuesday.”
The next focus will be against Moroka Swallows, as AmaZulu take on the Soweto-based team at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on 5 March 19:30 CAT.
Mamelodi Sundowns (0) 3 (Ribeiro 48’, 57’ 78’)
AmaZulu (0)
Mamelodi Sundowns: R. Williams, Z. Mdunyelwa, G. Kekana, D. Lunga, L. Maboe, B. Zungu, T. Mokoena (B. Aubaas 73’), A. Modiba (S. Mbule 73’), G. Sirino (J. Mendieta 84’), L. Ribeiro (S. Mkhulise 83’), M. Esquivel (T. Lorch 73’)
AmaZulu: O. Mzimela, W. Jooste, M. Gumede (V. Zulu 82’), R. Mphahlele, T. Fielies (T. Sikhakhane 66’), R. Hanamub, M. Mbanjwa (G. Maluleka 79’), B. Motshwari (H. Ekstein 65’), E. Brooks, A. Chidi Kwem (A. Mulenga 65’), T. Moremi
