Ghanaian Anas takes Black Leopards through
Black Leopards (0) 1
AmaZulu (0) 0
GOAL: Black Leopards — Mohammed Anas (52m)
● Mohammed Anas scored his third goal in just two matches, his 52nd-minute strike at Thohoyandou Stadium against in-form AmaZulu yesterday taking Black Leopards into the last eight of the Nedbank Cup.
The Ghanaian striker scored two goals on Tuesday when his side beat Lamontville Golden Arrows 2-1 in Durban to end a fivematch losing streak in the DStv Premiership.
Leopards’ goal came as a result of Usuthu’s defence failing to deal with Tsheamo Mashoene’s cross which was tapped back by Lifa Hlongwane for Anas to easily head past a helpless Neil Boshoff in Usuthu’s goal.
The result was a bit of a shocker as Leopards were expected to put all their efforts into avoiding relegation and met a team that started big favourites, having won four and drawn three league ties on top of making the last 16 by beating neighbours Lamontville Golden Arrows.
Usuthu coach Benni McCarthy showed little interest in this competition judging by the eight changes he made to his team’s starting line-up.
Former Bafana Bafana midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala, who was yet to start a match since joining Usuthu in October, was among the raft of changes.
AmaZulu’s best chance of the match came from the left boot of the 36-year-old
Tshabalala, who was unlucky to see his welltaken free kick on the right flank headed onto the crossbar by Tsepo Masilela in the 31st minute.
The home side was otherwise in control of the first half, with Tumelo Khutlang and Hlongwane working in tandem in creating chances for strikers Rodney Ramagalela and Anas.
AmaZulu never really settled or got a chance to impose their game in this match. Instead it was Leopards who looked to extend their lead only to be denied by Boshoff on a couple of occasions.
While the defeat extended Usuthu’s famine to 29 years as far as winning trophies in the top flight goes, this gives McCarthy a chance to fully focus on the ambition of the club’s new boss, Sandile Zungu, who wants to see them finishing inside the top four in the Premiership.
Leopards have a chance to repeat what they achieved in 2011 in this cup competition when they journeyed as far as the final before they were defeated 3-1 by Orlando Pirates at the Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga.