TS Galaxy climbed into the top eight on the DStv Premiership table after defeating AmaZulu 2-1 on Saturday night.
DStv Premiership
Result: AmaZulu 1-2 TS Galaxy
Date: 18 February 2023
Venue: Moses Mabhida Stadium
AmaZulu made wholesale changes to the side that beat Tornado in the Nedbank Cup, as the big-hitters, Veli Mothwa, Abbubaker Mobara, Thabo Qalinge, Dumisani Zuma, Hendrick Ekstein and Junior Dion were brought back.
Galaxy, meanwhile, also shuffled their side after beating third-tier side Amavarara in the Nedbank Cup, as the likes of Bernard Parker, Mlungisi Mbunjana and Djakaridja Traore were recalled.
The game was open in the early stages, with Zuma registering the first threatening shot at goal for Usuthu on 18 minutes that was smothered by goalkeeper Vasilije Kolak.
With clear-cut chances hard to come by, the Rockets were awarded a penalty ten minutes before the interval after Sphiwe Mahlangu went down in the box from a sliding challenge by Thembela Sikhakhane, which allowed Traore to step up and calmly slot down the middle.
As the game continued to stretch, Zuma had a big chance for the home side just before the break after he made a way for himself through in the box but his diagonal and looping shot missed the top corner by inches over the crossbar.
Romain Folz's charges were eager to get forward after from the break and opened space at the back as Traore doubled the lead for the visitors ten minutes later with a free header in the box from Lindokuhle Mbatha's cross.
Hardly threatening Kolak, AmaZulu coach Romain Folz needed more firepower upfront after the hour-mark as Bonginkosi Ntuli replaced came on for Zuma. As for Galaxy, they crowded their midfield with a tactical change 16 minutes before time as Orebotse Mongae came on for Traore.
Usuthu showed a sense of urgency going forward in the closing stages and Dion eventually reduced the deficit five minutes before time with a toe-poke from close range after a scramble in the box.
The visitors pressurised the Rockets in the dying minutes with numbers up top but could not carve out clear-cut chances, as Galaxy held on to move up to seventh on the log while AmaZulu dropped down to ninth.
Here's how they lined up:
AmaZulu: 44. Mothwa, 5. Sikhakhane, 14. Hanamub, 24. Zulu, 2. Mobara, 45. Buchanan, 50. Bwalywa, 27. Ekstein, 47. Qalinge, 33. Dion, 15. Zuma
Subs: 30. February, 17. Gumede, 42. Mabiliso, 23. Mphahlele, 4. Malepe, 36. Kunene, 12. Maluleka, 35. Manziba, 7. Ntuli
TS Galaxy: 32. Kolak, 4. M.Mahlangu, 3. Sanoka, 11. Nyama, 8. Mbunjana, 25. Parker, 20. Mlambo, 37. Medina Rodriguez, 9. Traore, 27. S. Mahlangu
Subs: 1. Van der Linde, 30. Mere, 28. Phohlongo, 10. Hlongwane, 15. Aubaas, 35. Mbatha, 7. Mongae
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