AmaZulu coach Pablo Franco was delighted with a return to winning ways for his side as they edged Royal AM 1-0 on Thursday to advance to the second round of the Nedbank Cup.
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The win at Umlazi, courtesy of substitute Pule Ekstein 86th minute winner, came after AmaZulu has lost last week to bottom placed Cape Town Spurs in the DStv Premiership.
𝐅𝐓| 𝐀𝐦𝐚𝐙𝐮𝐥𝐮 1️⃣-0️⃣𝐑𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐌
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) February 22, 2024
Pule Ekstein's late goal propels Usuthu to the #NedbankCup round of 16 ⏭ pic.twitter.com/rPz3Ol04F5
“I was really happy with the performance of the team. We were back to our DNA, to see that fighting spirit from the first whistle till the last minute, to be solid to again, keep another clean sheet, to fight for the result till the end, trying to get chances until we converted the winning goal,” said Franco after Thursday’s victory.
“To go further in this knockout competition, is really important for us, for the club. It was also really important for us to be dominant in KwaZulu- Natal. Last season we had four draws and four losses in our derbies. This season six derbies, four wins and two draws. If I'm not mistaken, not conceding any goals except in one of those games.”
It was second win in two months over Royal AM, who they beat 3-0 in the league at the end of last year.”
“I think the numbers are there. And it's pride and happiness for all of us,” the Spanish-born coach added.
“Still, we have a long way to go. We are still not at the same stage we used to be or we want to be because we are ambitious, because we want to be better and better every single day. But I think we are back on track and we need to grow more as quickly as possible.”