AmaZulu struck in the dying stages of the second half to secure a 1-0 win over relegation-threatened Baroka FC on Wednesday evening.
Result: Baroka 0-1 AmaZulu
Date: 05 April 2022
Venue: Peter Mokaba Stadium
Usuthu interim coach Brandon Truter has recalls to Lehlonololo Majoro and Hendrik Ekstein, while Mxolisi Kunene got his first start of the league campaign.
Baroka were eager to bounce back from the heavy defeat to Royal AM, with coach Kgoloko Thobejane recalling Manuel Kambala and Bennet Bobete in midfield while Evidence Makgopa started upfront.
The Limpopo outfit have suffered four losses in the last five DStv Premiership matches and only managed to score two goals in that period.
The poor finishing was on show once again in the first half after Sekela Sithole was left one-on-one with Usuthu goalkeeper Veli Mothwa in the box but failed to find the back of the net on 36 minutes.
Usuthu, meanwhile, struggled to carve out clear-cut openings of their own in the opening 45 minutes, with Baroka shot-stopper Oscarine Masuluke enjoying a quiet half.
The visitors opted for a change in the attack as Bonginkosi Ntuli, who scored the winner in the reverse fixture, replaced Majoro in the 68th minute.
The change nearly paid dividends, as Ntuli went agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock four minutes later but his shot crashed against the woodwork.
With time running out, Usuthu snatched the winning goal in second-half stoppage time thanks to Luvuyo Memela's seventh league goal of the campign.
As a result, Truter begins his reign with maximum points in his pursuit of a top-eight finish while Baroka remain rooted to the foot of the table.
Baroka: 30. Masuluke, 2. Mphahlele, 5. Makume, 33. Farmer, 23. Ngubane, 29. Bobete, 17. Kambala, 21. Masiya, 34. Ndlovu, 11. Sithole, 27. Mkagopa.
Subs: 1. Chipezeze, 9. Mbulu, 3. Junior, 37. Bombi, 8. Goldstone, 28. Monama, 18. Shozi, 40. Mehlape, 38. Maluleke.
AmaZulu: 44. Mothwa, 5.Sikhakhane, 36. Kunene, 17. Gumede, 22. Khumalo, 4. Malepe, 8. Makhaula, 28. Ekstein, 11. Memela, 15. Qalinge, 20. Majoro.
Subs: 38. Amonome, 13. Zulu, 24. Masilela, 5, Mzava, 23. Mlambo, Magaqa, 34. Maduna, 14. De Jong, 7. Ntuli.
