AmaZulu FC drew 1-1 with Marumo Gallants in a DStv Premiership match which was played at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday night.
Despite the draw, Usuthu moved up to the seventh spot – leapfrogging Orlando Pirates and the Durban side will now take on Richards Bay in a KwaZulu-Natal Derby clash on January 29.
It took the visitors 12 minutes to break the deadlock when Joseph Molangoane netted his first goal of the season to hand Gallants a 1-0 lead with Lebohang Mabotja providing the assist.
However, Usuthu fought back and they managed to level matters in the 39th minute through the in-form Sere Junior Dion who scored with a thunderous shot to make it 1-1 – making it two goals in as many matches.
Bahlabane Ba Ntwa responded by applying pressure on Usuthu and they were awarded a penalty after Abubaker Mobara had committed a foul in the box, but Ranga Chivaviro placed his effort over the crossbar from the spot-kick and the score was 1-1 at half-time.
A quiet second-half followed as the two teams struggled to create clear-cut chances and Bonginkosi Ntuli, who scored against Kaizer Chiefs last weekend, was introduced by coach Romain Folz in the 63rd minute.
Folz’s counterpart, Dan Malesela decided to introduce Gallants’ new striker Judas Moseamedi with five minutes left, but the hosts were able to contain the bulky centre forward and ultimately, the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
AmaZulu 1 (Dion 39′)
Gallants 1 (Molangoane 12′)
AmaZulu: Mothwa, Mphahlele, Sikhakhane, Mobara, Malepe, Hanamub, Maluleka, Qalinge (Bwalya 78′), Zuma (Ndlovu 63′), Ekstein (Maduna 46′), Dion (Ntuli 63′).
Gallants: Arubi, Nonyane, Nkili, Touré, Malongoane, Mvelase (Khiba 69′), Mabotja, Mphambaniso (Mohomi 69′), Otladisa (Lesiba 53′), Ngema, Chivaviro (Moseamedi 85′).
