Usuthu beat Tuks and move one place from foot of league
IT’S not a relegation dogfight unless it goes right down to the wire.
And AmaZulu have made sure that Saturday is DDay after coming from a goal behind to beat the University of Pretoria 2-1 at Tuks Stadium last night.
Usuthu moved one place from the foot of the Absa Premiership and will still need their rivals in the fight for survival to suffer defeats this weekend if they are to stay in the topflight.
Bongani Ntuli scored twice for Usuthu, while Tebogo Monyai put Tuks ahead only thirty minutes into the game. AmaZulu’s fighting spirit alone deserved an applaud.
It was in the eighth minute the side rooted to the bottom of the league table and appeared to crack under pressure when the hosts AmaTuks earned a spot kick.
The clumsy challenge from goalkeeper Energy Murambandoro on striker Thabo Mnyamane was a clear sign of his nerves getting the better of him.
It was a massive game for Usuthu – win or bust, like every game they have played since coach Steve Barker arrived midway through the season.
Geofrey Massa stepped up to take the penalty, but his attempt was brilliantly saved by Murambandoro, redeeming himself for his earlier mistake.
AmaZulu went on a surge, clearly desperate to get the goal that would settle their jitters. The first of many missed chances began in the 14th minute when strikers Ntuli, the man who would go on to score twice in helping secure Usuthu’s victory, Dlamini could not get at the end convert.
They were punished soon after that when, on the half hour mark, Tuks captain and defender Monyai headed home to break the deadlock.
The match went into the break with AmaZulu still searching for the equaliser, but having been extremely unlucky not to find the leveler.
Although referee Victor Hlungwani seemed to have the game under control, the magnitude of this relegation scrap placed any decision he made under scrutiny. In adding to AmaZulu’s frustrations, the referee ignored a penalty shout soon after Tuks had drawn first blood.
Barker let Hlungwani know he wasn’t too pleased with his officiating in the first half while players from both clubs made their way into the dressing room. The coach also seemed to have given a typical motivational talk to his men, who came out and quickly reversed the scoreline to put AmaZulu on the front foot.
It was just minutes before Ntuli fought his way into the Tuks box using his strength to squeeze the ball between goalkeeper Washington Arubi’s legs. He then again beat Arubi for the second time, unleashing a powerful shot in the 64th minute.
They still have it all to do this weekend with a home game against neighbours Maritzburg United, needing a win to avoid automatic relegation. Usuthu will also need Swallows and Chippa United to suffer defeat to be completely safe from the drop, with goal difference also playing a part in the permutations. and Goodman of a cross to