Siyethemba Sithebe of AmaZulu challenged by Siboniso Conco of Golden Arrows during the Absa Premiership 2018/19 match between Golden Arrows and AmaZulu at the Suger Ray Xulu Stadium, Clermont on the 14 April 2019 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
by
Scent ition
Sunday Apr 14, 2019. 17:58
AmaZulu FC were held to a 1-1 draw by Golden Arrows in an Absa Premiership match at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
As a result, Abafana Bes'thende moved up to ninth place on the league table, while Usuthu remained 11th on the standings.
The match got off to a lively start and it was Usuthu who broke the deadlock just 12 minutes into the KwaZulu-Natal Derby.
Sadat Ouro-Akoriko scored with a powerful header from Siyethemba Sithebe's corner-kick to make it 1-0 to AmaZulu.
However, the lead only lasted for six minutes as Abafana Bes'thende hit back through Divine Lunga.
The Zimbabwean left-back scored from close range to make it 1-1 for Arrows after Richard Matloga's free-kick had hit the crossbar.
The hosts had a great opportunity to make it 2-1 just before the half-hour mark, but somehow Sibusiso Sibeko missed the target.
The two teams were locked at 1-1 at half-time following a thrilling first-half.
It was end-to-end stuff after the restart as Arrows and AmaZulu searched for more goals.
The ball fell kindly for Michael Morton inside the Abafana Bes'thende box, but the Usuthu midfielder placed his effort over the crossbar.
At the other end, Siyabonga Dube came close to scoring when his effort hit the woodwork as AmaZulu survived a scare.
Arrows' second-half substitute Lerato Lamola was brought down by Ouro-Akoriko in the AmaZulu box in the 69th minute, but the referee waved play on.
Cavin Johnson, the AmaZulu coach, decided to introduce veteran forward Siyabonga Nomvethe as the visitors searched for a late winning goal.
However, the record PSL goalscorer could not find the winning goal, while AmaZulu goalkeeper Siyabonga Mbatha made a late save to deny Lunga - ensuring that the game ended in a 1-1 draw.
Arrows (1) 1 (Lunga 18')
AmaZulu (1) 1 (Ouro-Akoriko 12')
AmaZulu: Mbaeva, Mzava, Bilankulu, Sibisi, Lunga, Dube (Jooste 78'), Venter, Phiri, Mathenjwa (Lamola 61'), Sibeko, Matloga (Mutizwa 46').
AmaZulu: Mbatha, Sikhakhane, Mabiliso, Ouro-Akoriko, Van Heerden, Morton, Ncube (Nomvethe 78'), Maduna (Chawapiwa 86'), Sithebe, Karuru (Ntsundwana 84'), Ntuli.
COMMENTS
Sign in to comment