AmaZulu moved level on points with Orlando Pirates despite dropping points at home against Sekhukhune United on Saturday evening.
DStv Premiership
Result: AmaZulu 0-0 Sekhukhune United
Date: 07 May 2022
Venue: Moses Mabhida Stadium
Usuthu altered the line-up that beat Swallows by bringing back Thembela Sikhakhane and Mxolisi Kunene while Sekhukhune recalled Justice Chabalala, Nyiko Mobbie and Justin Shonga following the defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns.
Brandon Truter's charges were forceful in the opening exchanges and Sphesihle Maduna had a chance to give them the lead in the 18th minute after he burst his way in the box before flashing his strike across the face of goal.
The hosts should have been ahead five minutes later after Tapelo Xoki connected with a corner but goalkeeper Toaster Nsabata heroically thwarted to the effort to keep the scores level.
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Babina Noko were happy to still absorb the pressure, but they did not find opportunities on the counter while AmaZulu could not sustain the intensity of their attacks, as the sides went into the halftime break scoreless.
AmaZulu continued to pin Sekhukhune back in their own half in the early stages of the second stanza but they did not have the finesse to get behind their defence.
The game got into a slump after the hour-mark, as Truter's men became predictable playing against a deep block and the former Swallows mentor made an attacking change in the last quarter of an hour, as Andre de Jong replaced Xola Mlambo.
Usuthu ran out of ideas in the dying minutes of the second half as the sides settled for a point apiece, with the home side registering their 16th draw of the season.
Here's how they lined up:
AmaZulu: 44. Mothwa, 17. Gumede, 36. Kunene, 27. Xoki, 2. Mobara, 8. Makhaula, 45. Buchanan, 23. Mlambo, 5. Sikhakhane, 11. Memela, 34. Maduna
Subs: 43. Boshoff, 18. Moleko, 13. Zulu, 22. Khumalo, 4. Malepe, 19. Moremi, 28. Ekstein, 14. De Jong, 9. Mthembu
Sekhukhune: 1. Nsabata, 13. Motsepe, 29. Chabalala, 42. Mobbie, 39. Gyimah, 35. Mahlangu, 15. Kabwe, 6. Maart, 28. Molaba, 45. Shonga, 34. Ohizu.
Subs: 30. Dlamini, 26. Parusnath, 5. Madonsela, 7. Mncube, 31. Katsande, 22. Nxumalo, 8. Ledwaba, 20. Leepile, 9. Mashumba.
