Durban - AmaZulu scored back-to-back wins for the first time this season when they beat Platinum Stars 2-1 at the Chatsworth Stadium on Thursday night.
Buoyed by their win away against Bidvest Wits over the weekend by the same margin, the home team was clearly the better side for much of this fixture and would have won by a bigger margin had they made better use of some of the chances they created during this game.
They had a great chance to open the scoring in the second minute of play. Midfielder Nhlanhla Zwane got on to the end of a flowing move that started in his own half, but his snap shot from close range was directed straight at Tapuwa Kapini in the Stars goal.
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The home side had an even better chance to take the lead on the half hour mark when Kapini spilled Sphiwe Mkhonza's probing long throw which landed at the feet of Bradley Ritson. With the keeper all at sea, the striker lifted his shot over the crossbar from five metres out.
In the 38th minute Lita Ngxabi forced Kapini to make a good save when the diminutive winger made good contact with Bukasa Kasonga's cross. Three minutes later Kapini was called into action yet again, and this time he had to keep out Ritson's stinging shot.
Stars best chance of the half came just before half time when AmaZulu's keeper, Mbongeni Mzimela failed to deal with a set piece played into his area allowing Almiro Lobo to let rip with a volley - but the shot was blocked by an AmaZulu defender.
The visitors went close to scoring soon after the break, but a reflex save from Mzimela prevented George Mofokeng's header from hitting the back of the net. From that point onwards the home side shifted gears and made more concerted efforts to find an opening.
Defender Warren Bishop hit the Stars upright in the 54th minute with a lunging header; Striker Dumisani Ngwenya fired wide with a clear sight of goals a short while later.
AmaZulu eventually took the lead in the 65th minute when Sibusiso Hadebe drilled home Zwane's low cross. Defender Marc van Heerden doubled the home side lead five minutes later with a move that he started in his own half and finished with after some assistance from Ngwenya.
Stars pressed hard in the final minutes and got a consolation with two minutes to go when Bradley Grobler scored with his first touch when he out-jumped the AmaZulu defence to head home Mbulelo Mabizela's long throw. - Sapa
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