AmaZulu cemented sixth spot on the Betway Premiership table after a 1-1 draw against Polokwane City on Friday night.
Betway Premiership
Result: AmaZulu 1-1 Polokwane City
Date: 02 April 2025
Venue: King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium
Usuthu coach Arthur Zwane handed a start to Richard Ofori in goals, while Tebogo Mashigo, Bayanda Thabede and Ramahlwe Mphahlele also returned to the starting line-up.
Rise and Shine were without the services of Bafana Bafana international Oswin Appollis as Bafana Nana was recalled while Thato Letshedi came in for Mokibelo Ramabu.
The home side got off to the perfect start when Mashigo broke the deadlock after eight minutes but cutting inside and sending a powerful in off the crossbar.
Rise and Shine looked to get themselves back on level terms as the first half went on, but Ofori provided great resistance by pulling off a couple vital saves to deny Letshedi and Nana at the midway period.
Phuti Mohafe's charges carried that momentum into the second period and won a penalty ten minutes after the halftime for Thembela Sikhakhane's foul on Bonginkosi Dlamini. Lebohang Nkaki stepped up and fired past Ofori for his fourth goal of the season.
The home side responded with a double change for the final 20 minutes as Bongani Zungu and Mashigo made way for Pule Ekstein and Mlondi Mbanjwa.
Usuthu dominated possession in the latter stages of the second half, with Ekstein and Ethan Brooks dictating play in the opposition half but the Rise and Shine defence did well thwart any attempt into the 18 yard area.
The hosts nearly bagged the winning goal in second-half stoppage from a corner situation, but Mphahlele's glancing header crashed against the crossbar as the two sides settled for a share of the spoils on the night.
Usuthu will end the weekend in sixth spot, while Polokwane, who are seventh, could be out of the top eight if Chippa United and Kaizer Chiefs win on Saturday.
Here's how they lined up:
AmaZulu: 50. Ofori, 5. Sikhakhane, 4. Hanamub, 23. Mphahlele, 42. Mthethwa, 8. Motshwari, 34. Zungu, 22. Thabede, 9. Ighodaro, 39. Mashigo, 19. Moremi
Subs: 38. A. Mbanjwa, 16. Dube, 25. Ngobeni, 14. Radebe, 15. M.Mbanjwa, 27. Ekstein, 18. Brooks, 37. Sithole, 11. Mulenga
Polokwane City: 50. Okoth, 42. Manthosi, 33. Ndlovu, 34. Nikani, 5. Nkaki, 21. Kambala, 13. Nana, 14. Maphangule, 17. Dlamini, 15. Raphadu, 8. Letshedi
Subs: 40. Mathebula, 31. Motsa, 43. Gwangqa, 46. Ngwenya, 47. Batlhabane, 45. Ramushu, 16. Goovadia, 22. Makhubela, 7. Ramabu
