AmaZulu FC trumped Marumo Gallants 1-0 in a Betway Premiership match played at the Princess Magogo Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Hendrick Ekstein netted the only goal of the game as Usuthu racked up a second successive win and moved to sixth place on the log – just three points off the pace of co-leaders Sekhukhune United and Kaizer Chiefs.
AmaZulu were the more forceful and cohesive team through the course of the first half, though they had to wait until injury time before the break to claim the lead. An in-swinging Hendrick Ekstein free kick from the left flank appeared to pass untouched through a crowded penalty area and found the back of the net to see the hosts 1-0 up at the interval.
Earlier, Ekstein blazed over the crossbar from a great chance, Siyanda Hlangabeza demonstrated his power with a thumping drive from just outside the box which flashed narrowly wide of the target, and Sandile Mthethwa headed over after beating Gallants goalkeeper Washington Arubi to a teasing cross.
Bahlabane Ba Ntwa’s only notable effort of the first 45 minutes was a shot direct from a free kick by Jaisen Clifford which had Usuthu goalkeeper Darren Johnson worried for a heartbeat, before the ball curled wide of the mark.
Ekstein had a chance to score a second goal 10 minutes into the second half, but he scuffed his effort wide of the mark, while Tebogo Mashigo had a great chance to either net himself or square for substitute Andiswa Sithole to have a tap-in shortly before the hour mark. Unfortunately the forward’s foot dug into the turf under a challenge and he both missed out on the scoring opportunity, and sustained a game-ending knee injury.
Gallants dialled up the attacking pressure in the dying minutes as they searched for an equaliser, but AmaZulu’s well-drilled defence repelled everything thrown at them.
The teams will return to Premiership action next midweek, with Gallants away to Stellenbosch FC on Tuesday 26 August, while AmaZulu will visit Sekhukhune the following day.
AmaZulu FC (1) 1 (Ekstein 45+3’)
Marumo Gallants 0
AmaZulu: Johnson, Allan, Mthethwa, Fielies, Hanamub, Hlangabeza (Mbanjwa 90’), Motshwari, Radebe, Ekstein (Sithole 60’), Ngwenya, Mashigo (Mzobe 65’)
Gallants: Arubi, Ncube, Chabatsane, Sikhosana, Mabotja, Msendami, Sithole, Nhlapo, Mpambaniso (Motloung 77’), Khumalo (Mabuza 56’), Clifford (Sithole 77’ [Mhlongo 90+1’])
