Durban – Mbulelo Mabizela, Goodman Dlamini and Bonginkosi Ntuli were all on target as Premiership strugglers AmaZulu continued their revival with a spirited 3-1 victory over Bidvest Wits at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Tuesday night.
Veteran defender Mabizela thumped in the opener after 20 minutes against his former club, before Dlamini swept home the second, in the stoppage time of a first half the hosts dominated.
On-loan Mamelodi Sundowns forward Ntuli added a third after 51minutes, before Burundian Papy Faty pulled a goal back on the hour.
But it proved a mere consolation as the league's bottom club held out for a deserved win, one that left them now only three points adrift of second-bottom Moroka Swallows.
Wits, meanwhile, dropped to fourth on the table after Orlando Pirates beat Chippa United 2-0 to leapfrog them into second.
Usuthu, who two weeks ago could not buy a win, now have two in three games thanks to a result based on a solid first-half showing.
They dominated most of the opening 45 minutes, with six attacking set-piece opportunities alone before the goal arrived.
Dlamini headed over a Marc van Heerden free-kick early on, before Bonginkosi Ntuli had a shot blocked after a sharp turn inside the box.
A rare Wits chance at the other end after 16 minutes ended with Jabulani Shongwe dragging well wide as the visitors struggled.
The goal arrived when another superb Van Heerden free-kick, this one from 20-yards out, was excellently blocked by Moeneeb Josephs, before the loose ball was put back into the penalty area by Robyn Johannes allowing Mabizela to thump in from close range.
Dlamini had another decent chance on the half-hour, but ballooned over, before a fine free-flowing move from the hosts then ended with Roscoe Pietersen slicing just wide from the edge of the box.
Wits had their best chance in the 37th minute when Shongwe escaped down the left and delivered a pin-point cross to the head of Sthembiso Ngcobo, who failed to hit the target from six yards out.
And with half time looming, the lead was doubled in emphatic fashion as Van Heerden quickly switched play from left to right, Ntuli delivered a first-time low ball and Dlamini was on hand to finish at the far post.
Six minutes after the break and it was 3-0 as a long ball from goalkeeper Energy Murambadoro was not dealt with by Cornelis Kwakman allowing Ntuli to intercept and the striker rounded Josephs before firing in from a tight angle.
AmaZulu almost added another goal when Mabizela's header towards the left corner was somehow finger-tipped away by Josephs.
Wits then pulled a goal back on the hour when Faty punished some indecisive defending with a powerful 25-yard drive beyond a stranded Murambadoro.
Despite pushing hard to try and get back into the game, the closest Gavin Hunt's men came to a goal was when substitute Markus Lecki forced Murambadoro into a scrambling low save to his left as the hosts held on. – Sapa