Pretoria – AmaZulu scored a 2-1 victory over the University of Pretoria in the Absa Premiership match at the Absa Tuks Stadium, in Hatfield.
The result marked AmaZulu’s first win over AmaTuks in Premiership competition and it offered a glimmer of hope at a time when they are in the throes of the dreaded relegation zone.
AmaZulu’s win also marked a personal triumph for their coach Steve Barker, a former AmaTuks mentor, and the victory made for a season’s double against the Pretoria side.
AmaTuks made their early pressure count with a 30th minute left-footed goal by Tebogo Monyai, thanks to a fine assist by Atusaye Nyondo.
Moments earlier, ‘Usuthu’ goalkeeper, the Zimbabwean-born Energy Murambadoro, foiled a scoring attempt from Ronald Ketjijere by turning the parting shot for a corner.
AmaTuks’ 1-0 lead survived the first half in which Murambadoro was the only yellow card booking.
Steve Barker’s Usuthu surprised AmaTuks early after the break when they equalised through Bongi Ntuli after fine work by Willem Mwedihanga in the build-up movement to the opposition goalmouth (1-1).
Amost 20 minutes later, Usuthu shocked AmaTuks to take a 2-1 lead when Ntuli netted hi second with a fine low right-footed drive and from that point onwards, the relegation-threatened KZN visitors were forced on to a largely defensive role as the hosts tried to claw their way back into the match, but to no avail. – ANA