AmaZulu lose to Free State Stars

by Graeme Jackson

Saturday Mar 16, 2019. 18:14

Free State Stars beat AmaZulu FC 4-1 in an Absa Premiership match at the Goble Park Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

As a result, Ea Lla Koto climbed up to 11th spot on the league standings, while Usuthu moved down to 12th place.

Ea Lla Koto got off to the perfect start as they broke the deadlock just three minutes into the match through Martin Kizza.

The Uganda international beat AmaZulu goalkeeper Siyabonga Mbatha to make it 1-0 to Stars, much to the delight of the home crowd.

Usuthu tried to level matters with Talent Chawapiwa looking lively for the visitors, but the Zimbabwean winger was wasteful.

Chawaphiwa missed the target with a long-range shot in the 22nd minute as AmaZulu looked to level matters.

Stars goalkeeper Samkelo Mbambo was called into action on the stroke of half-time and he denied Chawapiwa.

The score was 1-0 to Stars at half-time.

An enthralling second-half followed as Stars doubled their lead through Relebogile Mokhouane's effort in the 65th minute to make it 2-0.

However, Chawapiwa managed to grab the goal he had been looking for five minutes later to make it 2-1 for AmaZulu.

It was end-to-end stuff as Stars responded with a goal two minutes later when Eleazar Rodgers scored from the spot-kick after the hosts were awarded a penalty.

AmaZulu launched late attacks as they looked to grab at least two late goals to ensure that the game ended in a draw.

However, they were left vulnerable at the back and they were punished by Harris Tchilimbou, who scored in stoppage-time to seal Stars' 4-1 win over AmaZulu.

Stars (1) 4 (Kizza 3', Mokhouane 65', Rodgers 72', Tchilimbou 90'+4)
AmaZulu (0) 1 (Chawapiwa 70')

Stars: Mbambo, Masehe, Mahamutsa, Mathumo, Mobbie, Tchilimbou, Kizza (Dlamini 76'), Khabane (Mokhouane 46'), Mbhele, Rodgers, Jantjie (Hlubi 68').

AmaZulu: Mbatha, Sikhakhane, Mabaliso, Ouro-Akoriko, P.Gumede, Sithebe, Ncube, Vilakazi, Chawaphiwa (Nomvethe 78'), Karuru (Ntsundwana 60'), Ntuli (Cele 74').