Looking to bounce back from their disappointing midweek result, AmaZulu defeated Cape Town City 1-0 at the DHL Stadium in the Betway Premiership on Sunday afternoon.
The game started off with both sides charging for goal and showing their hunger to go forward. Jaedin Rhodes had an opportunity with a toe-poked shot towards the goal for the home team, but his attempt went wide.
In the first 15 minutes of play, both teams were equally balanced in terms of possession but it would be AmaZulu who found the edge as the half progressed. Riaan Hanamub produced a dangerous ball into the area, and the away team was all systems go.
Hendrick Ekstein scored his fourth league goal of the season. His well-timed run saw him finish comfortably, leaving City shot-stopper Darren Keet with no chance to make the save in the 19th minute.
Soon after on the other end, Prins Tjiueza also had a go after a properly timed run put him through on goal. Usuthu keeper Richard Ofori did well to save the effort and the visitors went into the halftime break a goal ahead.
The second stanza saw Cape Town City push a little harder to get back into the game. Darwin Gonzalez missed an opportunity to level matters in the 55th minute and it began to look like an increasingly frustrating afternoon for Eric Tinkler and his men.
Tjiueza came close again, and it became clear that the Citizens’ issue on the day was their finishing. Thamsanqa Mkhize was also involved in the effort, and the clock ran down to the final 10 minutes of play.
Although the home team continued to look for the equaliser, it was not to be as AmaZulu kept their defence tight. The result sees Usuthu move above the Citizens to 11th place in the Betway Premiership standings.
Cape Town City (0) 0
AmaZulu (1) 0 (Ekstein 19’)
Cape Town City: D. Keet, T. Mkhize (S. Dondolo 75’), A. Ziba, K. Cupido, T. Nyama, J. Rhodes (A. Soukouna 75’), A. Petrus, G. Amato (L. Aphane 83’), D. Gonzalez (S. April 83’), H. Domingo (T. Goedeman 83’), P. Tjiueza
AmaZulu: R. Ofori, R. Hanamub, T. Fielies, R. Mphahlele, W. Jooste, B. Motshwari, R. Human (T. Mashego 73’), H. Ekstein (E. Brooks 79’), M. Mbanjwa (A. Mobara 59’), T. Moremi, E. Ighodaro