AmaZulu were eliminated from the Nedbank Cup when they went down 4-1 to Bidvest Wits in their last 16 encounter at the Princess Magogo Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Papy Faty scored a brace for the Clever Boys and Sithembiso Ngcobo and Sibusiso Vilakazi were also on target, before Usuthu scored a late consolation through an own-goal from Kwanda Ngonyama.
Usuthu threatened as early as the 3rd minute when Njabulo Manqana released Bongani Ndulula on the left side of the box, but his shot was beaten away by Moeneeb Josephs.
Wits opened the scoring in the 15th minute as Ngcobo managed to get in ahead of Philani Zikalala to head home from a floated cross.
Four minutes later Ayanda Dlamini was put through by Ndulula on the right side of the box but he sidefooted wide of the far upright.
The visitors doubled their lead in the 29th minute as Faty nudged the ball in from close range following a long throw-in from Phumlani Ntshangase.
Both sides had opportunities after the half hour mark but Jabulani Shongwe blasted his shot over the crossbar in the 33rd minute, while Carlington Nyadombo directed his header wide at the other end two minutes later.
Gavin Hunt’s side added their third goal of the match in the 51st minute with Faty finishing with an overhead attempt at the far post after Usuthu had been inable to clear another long throw from Ntshangase.
Usuthu continued to press forward in search of a goal but Ndulula failed to get his header on target in the 51st minute, while Lucky Nguzana fired his low shot straight at Josephs in the 62nd minute.
Wits were then reduced to ten men in the 70th minute when Ntshangase was booked for the second time following a foul on Nkosinathi Mthiyane.
However, they increased their lead eight minutes later with Vilakazi finishing with a first-time shot from just outside the box after he was set up by Asive Langwe.
Usuthu did eventually get a late consolation as Ngonyama nudged the ball into his own net while attempting to clear a low cross from Nguzana.
AmaZulu (0) 1 (Ngonyama o.g. 90 + 4’)
Bidvest Wits (2) 4 (Ngcobo 15’, Faty 29’ 51’, Vilakazi 78’)
Teams:
AmaZulu: Zikalala, Horaeb (Van Heerden 75’), Wolff, Nyadombo, Teyise, Madondo, Gamildien (Nguzana 58’), A Dlamini, Manqana (Mthiyane 58’), G Dlamini, Ndulula
Bidvest Wits: Josephs, Gumede, Kadi (Langwe 45+2’), Vilakazi (Isaacs 80’), Faty, Ngcobo, Nhlapo, Bhasera, Mngonyama, Shongwe (Madubanya 74’), Ntshangase - Backpage Txt