Posted on October 29, 2011 21:38
AmaZulu secured a valuable three points with a 2-0 victory over Bloemfontein Celtic at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday evening.
With both sides suffering first-round defeats in the Telkom Knockout this past week, a win in the Premiership would've gone a long way to soothe their disappointment.
But it was Usuthu who gave their faithful supporters something to shout about with late second-half goals from Tsweu Mokoro and Stanton Lewis.
Mokoro struck in the 74th minute after an error in the visiting defence, and with four minutes remaining Lewis scored his third goal in as many league games to seal three points for the hosts.
In a fairly quiet opening half, AmaZulu created the first chance when Mbele crossed to the near post, but Stanley Kgatla was beaten to the ball by Erick Mathoho.
At the other end, Clifford Mulenga was making a nuisance of himself as he tried to find a way in, with the Zambian twice shooting straight at goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini from outside the box.
The home side continued to carve out half-chances going forward and Lewis had an appeal for a penalty waved away after his volley flew straight into the body of Mathoho.
Ramson Zhuwawo had a great opportunity after 14 minutes, but headed Lewis' cross from the right into the ground from six metres out with the ball bouncing over.
Siwelele responded with their first clear-cut opening when Phenyo Mongala was put through on the left after an error from the AmaZulu midfield, but his indecisive cross-goal attempt evaded Mulenga and drifted wide.
On the half-hour mark, Kapini was forced to make his first real save when Mulenga's corner was nodded goalward by Mathoho, with the Zimbabwean scrambling to tip the ball over.
And just before half-time, Lewis cut smartly inside on the left after a quick corner, but Bukasa Kasonga made a complete hash of his cut-back from the edge of the area as another chance went a-begging.
It was goalless at the break and after the restart, Lewis again came close when he combined with Marc van Heerden on the right side of the box, but the lively striker's arrowed shot was kept out by a diving Patrick Tignyemb in the Celtic goal.
Kapini was almost embarrassed seconds later when a free kick from Tsietsi Mahoa struck his chest and bounced into some clear space in front of him, although his defenders were there to hack the ball clear.
There was no redemption for Thabo Nthethe 16 minutes from the end when the defender needlessly tried to keep in play a harmless outbound ball in the penalty area, and Mbele capitalised by sliding the ball back for Mokoro to tap in.
Mongala almost hit straight back for the Free Staters with a sizzling 25-yard strike from the left that cannoned back off the upright.
Lewis sealed the win after neat interplay between the forwards set him up for a clinical strike from the centre of the penalty area.