AmaZulu FC twice came from behind to secure a thrilling 3-2 triumph over TS Galaxy in a Betway Premiership match played at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday.
Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya was the hero for Usuthu, coming off the bench to score two goals and provide one assist as the hosts recovered from 0-1 and 1-2 down to pick up a fifth win from their last seven league outings. AmaZulu are up to fourth place on the log, just two points off the pace set by co-leaders Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates.
As for the Rockets, this result broke a four-game unbeaten run in the league and left them in sixth place, three points behind their vanquishers.
A quiet opening 20 minutes saw only two half-chances, both created by the visitors, as Sphesihle Maduna and Victor Letsoalo sent efforts off target and failed to trouble AmaZulu goalkeeper Darren Johnson.
AmaZulu’s first genuine scoring opportunity arrived in the 27th minute, as Nkosikhona Radebe sent in a teasing low cross from the right, hoping to find Tebogo Mashigo arriving at the far post, but Galaxy goalkeeper Ira Tape did well to tip the ball away from the striker’s path.
The teams cancelled each other out for the remainder of the half, though the Rockets should have claimed the lead in injury time before the break. Mpho Mvelase was presented with a great chance after a driving run into the penalty area, but he blazed his shot high and wide to leave the game goalless at halftime.
The second stanza continued in a similar vein to the first, though AmaZulu boosted their attack with the introduction of Langelihle Mhlongo just before the hour mark, and the sub almost scored in the 65th minute with a low shot that flashed just wide of the mark.
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Five minutes later, Galaxy claimed the lead from a set-piece situation. An in-swinging corner kick from Mory Keita was missed by Johnson (who just seconds earlier had made a fine save at point-blank range to deny Mvelase), allowing Victor Letsoalo to head home and put the visitors 1-0 up.
Usuthu struck back to level the game at 1-1 in the 79th minute. Substitute Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya turned home the ball from close range after brilliant set-up play from Athini Maqokola down the left flank.
However, the Rockets reclaimed the lead at 2-1 less than two minutes later, with Junior Zindoga scoring his first Betway Premiership goal – a sublime strike in which the Zimbabwean cut inside from the flank and whipped an unstoppable shot into the top corner from just inside the box.
A further twist arrived in the 89th minute when another AmaZulu substitute, Mondli Mbanjwa, arrived late in the middle of the box to meet Ngwenya’s cut-back from the right to thump an equaliser for 2-2.
And Usuthu rode the momentum to claim a dramatic 3-2 triumph, with Ngwenya scoring his second goal in the second minute of injury time, turning home a low cross from the right with a somewhat scuffed finish that beat Tape at his near post.
The teams will be back in Betway Premiership action next weekend, with AmaZulu away to Marumo Gallants and TS Galaxy at home to Sekhukhune United.
AmaZulu FC (0) 3 (Ngwenya 79’ 90+2’, Mbanjwa 89’)
TS Galaxy (0) 2 (Letsoalo 70’, Zindoga 81’)
AMAZULU: Johnson, Mthethwa, Fielies, Allan, Radebe, Zungu (Mbanjwa 82’), Bern, Hanamub, Mashigo (Ngwenya 69’), Ekstein (Mhlongo 57’), Maqokola
GALAXY: Tape, Dlamini (Fisher 77’), Mahlangu, Salatiel, Letsoenyo, Mbunjana, Maduna, Mvelase, Keita (Mahlambi 87’), Zindoga, Letsoalo (Ouamri 74’)