Johannesburg – A first half brace by Tamsanqa Teyise helped AmaZulu ease to a comfortable 3-0 Premiership victory over Golden Arrows in the Durban derby at King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi on Monday.
The defender headed in after six and 33 minutes, both times as a result of errors from debutant home goalkeeper Ryan Harrison, with Goodman Dlamini scoring in between with a low 22nd minute finish.
Victory enabled Usuthu, who were without their coach on the bench due to illness, to strengthen their grip on a top-eight position, while Arrows dropped to the foot of the table.
Arrows looked slighter more energetic in what was a lethargic opening period by both sides with Lucky Nguzana forcing an early save from the recalled Tapuwa Kapini, who turned a low shot wide after the striker was given space to turn in the box.
At the other end, debutant goalkeeper Harrison was looking nervy between the poles and was caught ball-watching Bonginkosi Macala's cross that had to be cleared for a corner by Nkanyiso Mgwengwe.
There was no second chance for Harrison, the son of coach Mark Harrison, when he committed the same error in the sixth minute following Khulegani Madondo's well-weighted ball from the right, with Teyise nodding in unmarked at the back post.
Abafana Bes'thende had a great chance to draw level in the 13 minute when Bonginkosi Ntuli lifted a ball through for Philani Shange, who had time and space to apply the finish, but wastefully poked wide.
And Arrows paid for that miss midway through the half when Macala again expertly delivered from the right, this time to the edge of the box where Bongani Ndulula headed into the path of Goodman, who tucked the ball away into the bottom left corner.
After Nguzana curled over a 20-yard free-kick on the half-hour, Usuthu surged into a 3-0 lead when Njabulo Manqana's set-piece from the right was headed in by Teyise once more.
Ntuli almost pulled one back straight after the restart, but watched his close-range shot expertly pushed over by Kapini, who was then forced to tip over a 25-yard Shange free-kick.
After 56 minutes, another debutant Lebogang Mothibantwa's first-time shot from a Wadabwa corner brushed the paintwork of the top left corner.
Ayanda Dlamini came close to adding to Usuthu's tally after 65 minutes, but after easing past two defenders, he curled wide.
Arrows continued to push forward – Shange again forcing Kapini to save in the closing stages – although the first-half damage ensured an easy win for Usuthu. – Sapa