AmaZulu FC hammered a hapless Kaizer Chiefs side 4-0 in a DStv Premiership match at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday evening.
The win elevated Usuthu to the fifth spot on the league standings as they extended their unbeaten run at home to three matches. The KwaZulu-Natal giants will now square off with Marumo Gallants at home on January 21.
While Amakhosi remained fourth on the league standings after recording their second consecutive defeat. The Soweto giants have turned their attention to their titanic clash against Mamelodi Sundowns at home January 21.
Usuthu were fearless in the opening exchanges as they counter-attacked in numbers and they broke the deadlock 14 minutes into the game when George Maluleka’s corner-kick was headed home by his former Dumisani Zuma to make it 1-0 to the hosts.
Chiefs responded by applying pressure on the hosts’ defence and they were awarded a penalty a minute later after Ashley du Preez was fouled in the box. However, keeper Veli Mothwa denied Bonfils Caleb-Bimenyimana from the spot-kick.
The Soweto giants were vulnerable when defending corner-kicks and they were punished by Ramahlwe Mphahlele who headed home Maluleka’s corner-kick to make it 2-0 to AmaZulu seven minutes before halftime.
The goal rattled Chiefs as Khune’s poor clearance was blocked by Sere Junior Dion who then fired into an empty net to hand AmaZulu a 3-0 lead on the stroke of halftime and AmaZulu were deservedly leading during the halftime break.
Coach Arthur Zwane introduced Kgaogelo Sekgota eight minutes into the second-half as the Glamour Boys looked to pull one back. The Bafana winger had a chance to score in the 76th minute, but he was brilliantly denied by his national team teammate Mothwa.
Chiefs were pushing forward in numbers and they were left vulnerable at the back and they were punished by Bonginkosi Ntuli. The bulky forward was sent through on goal and he rounded on-rushing Khune before scoring in stoppage time to seal AmaZulu’s 4-0 win.