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Recap
Memela fires Usuthu to win at Galaxy
AmaZulu FC claimed a 1-0 win over TS Galaxy in the DStv Premiership match which took place at the Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Therefore, the KwaZulu-Natal giants climbed up to sixth place in the league log, while the Rockets remained 16th on the standings.
Usuthu were the better side in the opening proceedings with coach Benni McCarthy’s side whipping crosses into the opposition box for their big centre forward Siphelele Mthembu.
Memela headed Siyethemba Sithebe’s cross into Augustine Mulenga’s path in the 11th minute and the Zambian winger beat goalkeeper Vasilije Kolak with a powerful shot, but the upright came to the hosts’ rescue.
AmaZulu continued to control the match and Mthembu connected with a delightful cross from Sithebe, but Pogiso Sanoka made a crucial goal-line clearance with Kolak well beaten just after the half-hour mark.
Galaxy then contained AmaZulu until the match referee Victor Hlungwani blew the half-time whistle and the score was 0-0 at the interval.
McCarthy introduced Bonginkosi Ntuli prior to the start of second-half and the bulky marksman was involved in the build-up to the only goal of the match four minutes before the hour-mark.
Tercious Malepe cut inside after receiving a pass from Ntuli, before setting up Memela, who scored with a sublime curling shot to hand AmaZulu a 1-0 lead – making it two goals in as many domestic league games.
The Rockets tried to respond with a goal as Tshegofatso Nyama beat his marker before delivering a cross for Sinethemba Mngomezulu, whose header was cleared off the goal-line by Makhehlene Makhaula.
However, Galaxy were reduced to 10 players in the 71st minute after Sanoka, who is slowly building a reputation as a bad boy, was shown his second red card of the current season after making a reckless challenge on his marker.
Both teams created chances in the dying minutes of the game with an unmarked Ntuli missing a sitter, before Menzi Ndwandwe headed the ball straight into Mothwa’s hands at the other end, and ultimately, the AmaZulu ran out 1-0 winners
Galaxy 0
AmaZulu 1 (Memela 56′)
Galaxy: Kolak, Sanoka, Makitan, Seedat, Mokoena, Nduli, Aubaas, Nyama (Mogaila 80′), Mbatha (Ndwandwe 85′), Macuphu, Mngomezulu (Mbunjana 73′)
AmaZulu: Mothwa, Gumede, Malepe, Xoki, Khumalo (Mgwazela 46′), Mlambo (Buchanan 63′), Makhaula (Ekstein 77′), Mulenga (Sikhakhane 77′), Sithebe, Memela, Mthembu (Ntuli 46′).
