AmaZulu FC emerged as 3-0 winners over their KZN rivals Golden Arrows in a Carling Knockout quarter-final match at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday evening.
As a result, Usuthu progressed to the semi-finals where they joined Stellenbosch FC and Richards Bay. Coach Pablo Franco Martin’s side will now face Mamelodi Sundowns in a DStv Premiership match on October 8.
Usuthu got a well-deserved lead in the 25th minute after a good move. Mondli Mbanjwa set up Sede Junior Dion who hit the back of the net to make it 1-0 to AmaZulu with the visitors’ defence exposed.
The goal rattled the Abafana Bes’thende’s defence and they conceded again four minutes later. This time, Dion beat goalkeeper Olofemi Kayode from close range to make it 2-0 to a rampant AmaZulu side.
Coach Mabhuti Khenyeza’s side was struggling to contain Dion who completed his first-half hat-trick in stoppage time to make it 3-0 to AmaZulu heading into the break after Arrows’ poor marking was exposed.
Khenyeza introduced strikers Lungelo Nguse and Ryan Moon prior to the start of the second-half. Angelo van Rooi was denied by keeper Veli Mothwa in the 54th minute as Arrows looked to pull one back.
Mothwa was a busy man as he produced a decent save to deny Nguse in the 59th minute. The Bafana Bafana keeper also saved an attempt from Van Rooi in the 67th minute to ensure that AmaZulu emerged as 3-0 winners.
AmaZulu (3) 3 (Dion 11′, 29′, 45’+10)
Arrows (0) 0
AmaZulu: Mothwa, Sikhakhane, Hanamub, Jooste, Mobara (Hlangabeza 87′), Gumede, Motshwari, Ekstein (Maluleka 74′), Ngema (Human 74′), Mbanjwa (Ndlovu 87′), Dion (Chidi Kwem 68′).
Arrows: Kayode, Theron, Cross, Mantshiyane, Shitolo, Dube, Tlolane (Moon 46′), Ndwandwe, Van Rooi, Sibiya (Ncube 83′), Mutizwa (Nguse 46′).
