UMLAZI – AmaZulu missed out on an opportunity to climb the table on Sunday afternoon as they shared the spoils with Polokwane City at King Zwelithini Stadium.
Usuthu were desperately in need of the maximum points, but they failed to make the home advantage count for them.
It was a third draw on the trot for Usuthu at home, which does not make for good reading for a side that are looking to get out of the relegation zone.
They are still rock bottom with four points after 10 league matches. Only four points separate them with the second-from-bottom Maritzburg United.
AmaZulu dominated the early proceedings, as Thembela Sikhakhane was causing all sorts of problems for Polokwane City with his storming overlapping runs on the right-hand side.
His cross almost produced an opener for Usuthu after 14 minutes, but Siyabonga “Bhele” Nomvethe fired his header off target.
Emiliano Tade also came close to break the deadlock for the hosts, but Harold Ndlovu did well to punch away a dangerous attempt.
Usuthu were attacking with zeal, precision and tenacity in the first half. They were asking all sorts of questions of the Polokwane defence.
Bongi Ntuli constructed a very promising move on the 30-minute mark, exchanging swift passes with Nomvethe, who sold the dummy to Edgar Makana and then played it back, but Ayanda Nkili did well to put the lanky striker off.
Siyabonga Mbatha was a spectator for Usuthu between the sticks in the first half.
Polokwane were trying to catch Usuthu on transition, using the experience of Rodney Ramagalela and Mohamed Anas.
Anas’ body language suggested that he was not happy with Jozef Vukusic’s decision to take him off.
Usuthu failed to continue where they left off in the first half during the second stanza.
Cavin Johnson brought in Ovidy Karuru and Jabulani Ncobeni in his quest to find the winner, which never came. He took off Nomvethe and Siyethemba Sithebe.
Mbatha earned his money with a fantastic diving save to keep his side in the game in the dying minutes.
AmaZulu goalkeeper Siyabonga Mbatha made a fine save in the closing stages to secure a draw against Polokwane City. Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Mbulelo Wagaba dribbled past Michael Morton and unleashed a thunderbolt, but Mbatha was equal to the task.
Karuru should have netted the winner for Usuthu with a minute to go when he received a lovely pass from Tade and went one against one with Ndlovu, who produced a brilliant save to prevent his side from losing two points.
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