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Usuthu punished by clinical SuperSport
AmaZulu’s hopes of achieving a positive result at the Loftus Stadium on Saturday afternoon went up in smoke as they suffered a 4-2 loss to SuperSport United.
A rather scrappy and disjointed start to the game saw neither side doing much up front.
But Usuthu suffered the setback of conceding an early goal when Dain Klate's 16th minute free kick took a touch off the head of Ntokozo Sikhakane and deflected into the back of the net.
While it went down as an own-goal, there was little Sikhakane could do - in attempting to keep Klate's free kick out of he danger-zone, Sikhakane could only just reach the ball, getting a feint touch which unfortunately saw the ball beating AmaZulu keeper Mbongeni Mzimela.
SuperSport have always been masters of the free kick and a cleverly worked set-piece in the 28th minute saw United doubling the lead as Thabo September stole in at the back post to score with a perfectly placed header.
AmaZulu nearly mustered an immediate reply, but Pere Ariweriyai was just not able to get on the end of Marc Van Heerden's free kick.
To their credit, Usuthu kept on playing and began to create a few chances of their own.
Sikhakane had the opportunity to pull a goal back in the 34th minute when he turned the box, but his shot went a foot wide of goal.
Next came AmaZulu's best chance of the game when Dumisani Ngwenya raced onto Sikhakane's through ball and steered it goal-wards, only for Bongani Khumalo to clear off the line, while in the 45th minute Thami Sangweni released Brad Ritson into the box, but his volley flew high over the bar.
Usuthu may have ended the first half strongly, but they suffered a further setback three minutes after the break when Klate added United's third goal, sending the ball in to the roof of the net after a flowing move.
Worse was to come in the 61 st minute when Klate effectively put the game beyond AmaZulu, tapping home from close range.
More drama was to come as SuperSport were rewarded a dubious penalty for Ariweriyai’s supposed push on Glen Salmon, but Brent Carelse put the spot kick into the stands.
Stats will show that Usuthu evenly matched SuperSport as far as possession and goal chances were concerned, and they did at least have the consolation of netting twice as first Litha Ngxabi scored with a stunning long range shot and then Belux Kasonga tapped home at the far post.
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