Stellenbosch FC claimed a narrow but deserved 1-0 win over AmaZulu FC at the Danie Craven Stadium on Tuesday evening to rise to third place on the Betway Premiership log.
Sanele Barns scored the only goal of the game as Stellies warmed up for their CAF Confederation Cup semifinal with a result which saw them leapfrog both TS Galaxy and Sekhukhune United in the standings.
Job done. Three points in the bag 🫡
— Stellenbosch FC (@StellenboschFC) April 15, 2025
Stellenbosch FC 1️⃣–0️⃣ AmaZulu pic.twitter.com/ecsOHZue64
Usuthu, meanwhile, suffered a fourth defeat from their last five league outings and remained in seventh place on the log.
Stellenbosch suffered an early injury blow, with striker Ashley Cupido pulling up with a left hamstring issue which saw him replaced by Langelihle Phili in the 10th minute.
AmaZulu had the first chance of the match, with Elmo Kambindu heading wide from a corner kick in the 16th minute.
The Namibian also saw a downward header from a Riaan Hanamub cross batted away by Stellenbosch goalkeeper Oscarine Masuluke in the 35th minute.
In between, the Cape hosts claimed the lead in the 29th minute, as Fawaaz Basadien’s corner kick eluded AmaZulu goalkeeper Richard Ofori and fell kindly for Sanele Barns at the back post – with the forward stabbing a shot into the back of the net from close range for 1-0.
A goalkeeping error from Richard Ofori gives Stellies the opener ⚽🎯
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) April 15, 2025
📺 Stream #BetwayPrem on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/pI3QOjpt12
AmaZulu were a goal down at the break, and early in the second half they would have been frustrated at missing out on a chance to level the game, as a goalkeeping mistake gifted a clear chance to Kambindu but he was unable to steer home a shot with the goal unguarded.
Usuthu sought a way back into the contest and sent on the likes of Etiosa Ighodaro, Rowan Human and Tebogo Mashigo from the bench after the midway point of the second half.
Yet Stellenbosch had the next big chance to add to the scoreline, with Barns doing great work to create a chance for Khomotjo Lekoloane, but he was denied by a great save from Ofori to keep the visitors in the contest.
AmaZulu were unable to create any meaningful attacking pressure in the final minutes of the game, with Stellies able to hold out and secure their 10th league win of the season.
Stellenbosch will next be in action in the CAF Confederation Cup, playing away to Simba SC in Dar es Salaam on Sunday 20 April, while AmaZulu’s next match is a Durban derby away to Golden Arrows on Sunday 27 April.
Stellenbosch FC (1) 1 (Barns 29’)
AmaZulu FC 0
STELLENBOSCH: Masuluke, Godswill, Moloisane, Toure, Basadien, Khiba (Palace 65’), Jabaar, Lekoloane (Titus 77’), Barns, Nku (Nduli 65’), Cupido (Phili 10’ [De Jong 77’])
AMAZULU: Ofori, Sikhakhane, Mphahlele, Fielies, Hanamub, Zungu (Mbanjwa 85’), Motshwari, Thabede (Human 72’), Brooks (Ighodaro 65’), Moremi, Kambindu (Mashigo 72’)