Super Sub Mhlengi Cele rescues AmaZulu

by Brian Lee

Sunday Aug 19, 2018. 17:48

AmaZulu picked up their second win of the 2018/19 Absa Premiership season after beating Free State Stars 2-1 at the King Zwelithini Stadium on Sunday.

Usuthu showed some real character after coming from a goal behind and scoring in the 89th minute thanks to a strike from substitute Mhlengi Cele to record the victory.

It was not the best start to the game for AmaZulu who conceded a goal after only four minutes following some miscommunication at the back which saw Mbongeni Gumede passing the ball into the back of his own net.

To be honest matters could have gotten a lot worse for the Durban-based side, but goalkeeper Moneeb Josephs was at his best and kept AmaZulu in the game.

In the 15th minute, Josephs showed all his quality when he denied Cesaire Gandze in a one-on-one situation.

Stars nearly doubled their lead ten minutes later when Eleazar Rodgers played Cesaire Gandze through on goal, but he failed to beat the AmaZulu keeper in a one-on-one.

The AmaZulu shot-stopper was at it again five minutes before the break when Bangali Keita broke into the box and proceeded to round the keeper, but Josephs did enough to distract the Stars striker as his shot struck the post.

The second half saw the home side playing a lot better football as they began to dictate terms.

In the 54th minute AmaZulu managed to equalise following a great team goal which concluded with Emiliano Tade rounded his marker before firing into the top corner from just inside the box, 1-1.

AmaZulu came bitterly close to taking the lead in the 81st minute when Khenyeza broke through on goal, but was superbly denied in a one-on-one with the Stars keeper.

The Durban-based side continued to push forward and were rewarded with the winning goal in the 89th minute when a right-wing cross from Tapelo Nyongo was expertly tucked home by Cele who had only come on four minutes earlier, 2-1.

AmaZulu (0) 2 (Tade 54’, Cele 89’)

Free State Stars (1) 1 (Gumede 4’ OG)

Teams

AmaZulu: Josephs, Sikhakhane, Mabiliso, Nyongo, M. Gumede, Ncube, Vilakazi, Ramphela (Ntsundwana 73’), Ncobeni (Sithebe 75’), Tade (Cele 85’), Khenyeza.

Free State Stars: Kwizera, Mobbie, Tema, Keita, Makhaula, Masehe, Gandze (Bhengu 90’), Jantjie (Jappie 62’), Dlamini (Maruping 75’), Rodgers, Tchilimbou.