Third Time Lucky At Ulundi

AmaZulu showed great guts and determination to come back from a goal down to beat Bloemfontein Celtic 2-1 at the Ulundi Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

AmaZulu showed great guts and determination to come back from a goal down to beat Bloemfontein Celtic 2-1 at the Ulundi Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

While the KZN side conceded first, they put up a convincing display, looking threatening in attack for most of the afternoon and in the end it was a deserved, and much needed three points for Neil Tovey’s side.

AmaZulu started the game well, with Ayanda Dlamini in particular a danger to the Celtic defence.

In the seventh minute Dlamini volleyed straight at Celtic keeper Patrick Tignyemb, while two minutes later he was nearly able to sneak a goal after the goal minder dropped Dumisan Ngwenya’s shot.

It was however the visiting side who scored the first goal when Prince Olumu exposed serious holes in the Usuthu defence as he ran on to Excellent Walaza’s through ball and slotted past Kati

Dlamini did his best to take the fight to Celtic and came close in the 23rd minute when he turned cleverly in the box before firing just wide.

Ten minutes later Dlamini again did well to beat Tignyemb to the ball, but the subsequent shot from an awkward position was cleared off the line by Gary Goldstone.

AmaZulu’s play deserved a goal and they were rewarded in the 45 th minute when the hard-running Dlamini earned a penalty after being taken down in the box by Johannes Motlhaping.

Marc van Heerden made no mistake with the spot kick, smashing the ball right down the middle of the goal with some power.

AmaZulu came out firing on all cylinders in the second half, putting Phunya Sele Sele on the back foot as they went in search of a second goal.

Dlamini had the first chance of the half when he fashioned space for himself, but from 25-yards out his shot went wide of the right hand upright.

Mzimela was then called into making a fantastic stop in the 76 th minute when he tipped Olomu’s rasping shot over the bar.

Five minutes later Dlamini swooped to score the winner, doing superbly to control Tsweu Mokoro’s shot before turning his marker and clinically beating Tignyemb with an angled shot.

TEAMS

AmaZulu: Mzimela, Bishop, Mkhonza, Van Heerden, Biyela, Hadebe, Mokoro, Ngxabi, Sangweni (N Zwane 75’), Ngwenya (Ariweriyai 90’), A Dlamini

Celtic: Tignyemb, Nthethe, Sambu, Malokase (Smith 56’), Goldstone, Walaza, Kanono (Smit 82’), Motlhaping, Nhlapo, Segolela, Olomu (Ndlovu 86’).