Posted on November 30, 2011 20:30
Goodman Dlamini's 83rd minute winner sniped the points for AmaZulu in a 1-0 success at Platinum Stars on Wednesday night.
"It was a bitterly frustrating game in all respects," Stars coach Owen de Gama said after Goodman Dlamini had snatched an 84th minute winner for AmaZulu against the run of play.
"We enjoyed a clear territorial advantage and had far better scoring opportunties and you could have thought it was AmaZulu who were playing with 10 players.
"We've beaten some of the top teams in the PSL at home this season and have built a feared reputation while playing in Rustenburg."
Da Gama felt they had dominated for much of the game and was disappointed with the result.
"I did not expect we would finally be beaten at home in this unsatisfatory manner," he said, "but when the ball is not running your way there is nothing you can do."
The incident which reduced Stars to 10 men occured in the 33rd minute when Reuben Thebakang received a second yellow card for an infringement on Tshweu Mokoro.
Despite enjoying the advantage of an extra player for the best part of an hour, the visitors appeared content to go back to Durban with a draw --until a breakaway in the closing stages resulted in Dlamini's winner.
In the process, Usuthu moved up three places to ninth position in the table, with coach Roger Palmgren declaring the win as the tonic they needed to get back on track after the jarring setback against Leopards.
"That is a game we should have won," Palmgren said, "and this was one we could have lost, but that's football."