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AmaZulu were unable to take advantage of a 10 man Kaizer Chiefs in the second half as they went down by 1-0 at the Loftus Stadium on Wednesday night.
A first half strike from Nkosinathi Nhleko was in the end enough to seal the three points for the Glamour Boys, despite having Ithumeleng Khune sent off in the 48th minute.
AmaZulu made a bright start to the game and had the home side on the back foot in the opening 15 minutes or so.
Chiefs keeper Khune was first to be called into action when he saved from Dumisani Ngwenya in the 15th minute.
A minute later there was action at the other end of the field when defender Pere Ariweriyai came to his side’s rescue as he cleared off the line from Siphiwe Tshabalala after keeper Mbongeni Mzimela was found wanting.
Mzimela was however able to make a good save when he tipped Nhleko’s header over the bar following a 17th minute corner kick.
Pressure continued to come from AmaKhosi and just after the half hour mark Chiefs midfielder Reneilwe Letsholonyane looked to try and make his mark on the game from range, but his effort whizzed past goal.
The pressure finally paid off for the Soweto side when Nhleko made his 36th minute shot count, slotting the ball past Mzimela from the edge of the area – 1-0 Chiefs.
Ayanda Dlamini had an effort saved by Khune just before the break, but it had certainly been the hosts who had been in the ascendancy for a good 30 minutes of the first half.
There was drama just after the break when Khune was sent for an early shower for a foul on Areweriyai, but Marc van Heerden wasted a golden opportunity when he failed to convert from the spot.
As AmaZulu looked to try and make use of their numerical advantage, the Chiefs defence held firm, ensuring that Bartman was not kept too busy; his saves from Dlamini in the 58th and 75th minutes the exception rather than the norm.
AmaZulu coach Neil Tovey did at least have the satisfaction of bringing on long-term injury victims Thabo Mabaso and Regan Noble, but unfortunately they could not change the game for the visiting side.
In the end AmaKhosi were able to hold on without too many problems to pick up a valuable three league points ahead of the month long break from competitive action – in fact it could have been 2-0 had Josta Dladla not missed a penalty after a foul by van Heerden.
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