Kaizer Chiefs suffered back-to-back defeats in the DStv Premiership after going down 4-0 to AmaZulu FC on Friday night.
DStv Premiership
Result: AmaZulu 4-0 Kaizer Chiefs
Date: 13 January 2023
Venue: Moses Mabhida Stadium
Chiefs made three changes to the side that lost to Sekhukhune United, as Ashley Du Preez replaced the injured Keagan Dolly, Happy Mashiane came in for the suspended Sifiso Hlanti and Mduduzi Shabalala got his first start in attack.
Amakhosi were shaky defensively in the early exchanges and after a couple of warnings, Dumisani Zumagave AmaZulu the lead on 14 minutes with a free header from a corner by George Maluleka against his former side.
Arthur Zwane's charges were handed a lifeline shortly thereafter with a penalty in their favour after Du Preez was brought down in the box but Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana's disappointing spot-kick was smothered by goalkeeper Veli Mothwa.
As Chiefs struggled to combine, Usuthu capitalised from another set-piece as another former Amakhosi player Ramahlwe Mphahlele doubled their lead eight minutes before the interval with a header in the box after shot-stopper Itumeleng Khune could not collect Maluleka's corner.
There was still time for Romain Folz's men to get the third goal as Junior Dion found the back of the net on the stroke of haltime after he put pressure on Khune from a poor back pass.
Zwane needed a response early in the second stanza, as he brought on Kgaogelo Sekgota in place of Shabalala and towards the hour-mark, with no goal-scoring chances going their way, he made a tactical switch, as Dillan Solomons replaced Mashiane.
Chiefs started to show promise going forward but only as far as getting a consolation goal, with Sekgota forcing a fine save out of Motha in the final 15 minutes while the young Wandile Duba also had a sniff at goal in the box that was thwarted.
As Amakhosi committed numbers forward, they were caught on a counter-attack in stoppage time which allowed Bonginkosi Ntuli to grab the fourth goal for AmaZulu after rounding Khune to slot into an empty net.
The win took Usuthu up to fifth on the table, three points behind fourth-placed Chiefs ahead of the weekend fixtures.
AmaZulu: 44. Mothwa, 5. Sikhakhane, 14. Hanamub, 23. Mphahlele, 2. Mobara, 8. Makhaula, 12. Maluleka, 27. Ekstein, 47. Qalinge, 33. Dion, 15. Zuma
Subs: 1. Mzimela, 17. Gumede, 42. Mabiliso, 4. Malepe, 50. Bwalya, 3. Ndlovu, 10. Maduna, 7. Ntuli, 20. Majoro
Kaizer Chiefs: 32. Khune, 39. Frosler, 2. Dove, 4. Kwinika, 37. Zwane, 8. Maart, 12. Ngcobo, 42. Shabalala, 9. Du Preez, 28. Bimenyimana
Subs: 44. Bvuma, 30. Ngezana, 3. Mathoho, 22. Matlou, 6. Sithebe, 14. Sekgota, 18. Solomons, 33. Radebe, 46. Duba
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