FILE PHOTO: AmaZulu’s Gabadihno Mhango celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during their DStv Premiership match against Swallows FC at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto, Johannesburg on Friday night. PICTURE: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
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0 JOHANNESBURG: The game started at a frantic pace with both teams on the front foot, looking for an early goal.
The Dube Birds handed the new signing, Keegan Allan, his debutant against the ruthless Usuthu but were without captain Wandisile Letlabika.
Meanwhile Usuthu were unchanged from their win over Cape Town City on Saturday.
Waseem Isaacs was presented with a glorious chance to put the Birds in the lead when he beat the offside trap and found himself on a one-on-one situation with Veli Mothwa, but AmaZulu goalkeeper was quick off his line to clear the danger.
Gabadinho Mhango also came close to getting the opener for the visitors with a strike in the box that missed the top corner by a whisker after an audacious back-heel by Kwem in the box.
The former Orlando Pirates striker eventually broke the deadlock on 24 minutes with a composed lob over shot-stopper Thakasani Mbanjwa after a fine pass over the defence by Keagan Buchanan
Swallows were on the back foot after that but they managed to get back into the game on the stroke of halftime after Mothwa could not keep out an improvised header by Allan, who opened his account for the season.
The sides were evenly matched early in the second stanza but Lindokuhle Mtshali had a chance to give the hosts the lead ten minutes in with a free-kick from the edge of the box that was smothered in top corner by Mothwa.
Swallows gained confidence after that and were awarded a penalty on 65 minutes after Abbubaker Mobara was adjudged to have brought down Lindokuhle Mtshali in the box, much to the annoyance of the Usuthu stars. Allan took responsibility and calmly sent Mothwa the wrong way to complete his brace.
Just when it looked like Swallows will finally register their first win of the season, Mbanjwa ruined the night for the Birds when he failed to hang on to a routine save in the 79th minute and ended up putting the ball into his own net.
On the stroke of full-time Mbanjwa found himself in no-mans land and allowed Mbongeni Gumede to put AmaZulu in the lead with a free header. The goal was enough to win the game for Usuthu and earn them vital three away points.
Here’s how they lined up:
Swallows: Mbanjwa, Lukhubeni, Sasman, Sait, Khupe, Allan, Mvelase, L.Mtshali, Mthethwa, Patjie, Isaacs
Subs: Tshabalala, Musonda, Makua, Lesako, S.Mtshali, Khumalo, Amoojee, Damons, Shwabule.
AmaZulu: Mothwa, Sikhakhane, Hanamub, Gumede, Mobara, Buchanan, Makhaula, Maluleka, Kwem, Mhango, Ntuli
Subs: Amonome, Mphahlele, Zulu, Kunene, Brooks, Magaqa, Zuma, Maduna, Majoro
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