Over to you, Masandawana
● Luvuyo Memela scored on the stroke of halftime to take AmaZulu two points clear at the top on the DStv Premiership table as they defeated neighbours Lamontville Golden Arrows 1-0 in the most anticipated KwaZuluNatal derby in years.
This victory, Usuthu’s 14th in 26 matches, challenges defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns to win against Orlando Pirates at the Orlando Stadium today if they’re to regain the top position that they have occupied all season. Sundowns still have three games in hand over Benni McCarthy’s team.
With the match played on the lush but poor surface of Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Clermont, Durban, Memela’s goal, from just outside the area, came as the contest looked set for a stalemate at the break.
Memela, whose goal was his eighth of the season, linked up with his former Orlando Pirates teammate Augustine Mulenga to beat Sifiso Mlungwana with a well-placed ground shot that took a slight deflection.
Usuthu were the ones asking most of the questions in a disjointed first half as both sides struggled to find rhythm in their play.
The match started at a flying pace but neither side was able to string a good number of passes together to pose a threat to either goalkeeper. Perhaps the occasion got the better of the players as they battled to settle their nerves.
Both teams came to this match after taxing away midweek fixtures against Cape Town City, where Usuthu registered their biggest win (5-1) of the season, while Abafana Besithende held log leaders Sundowns to a 0-0 draw in Pretoria to remain third and among the title challengers.
Mulenga, who has provided 11 assists and five goals for Usuthu this season, looked to lighten up the game in the 14th minute when he provided a good pass to Lehlohonolo Majoro who crossed to Thabo Qalinge, whose powerful shot was blocked.
Arrows had their moments but were not as sharp as their neighbours. Veli Mothwa, in Usuthu’s goals, had little to do for most of the first 45 minutes.
Arrows tried to up their game after the restart and hit the upright near the end, but it was still AmaZulu who looked more dangerous on transition after leaving all possession to the home side. Majoro should have doubled Usuthu’s lead in the 63rd minute when he broke through in one of those counterattacks, but he shot wide with just Mlungwana to beat.
Having been the first team to reach 50 points this season and in their PSL history, Usuthu now have to beat Pirates, Swallows FC, Baroka FC and Maritzburg United in their last four matches to have a great chance of winning their first league title in 49 years.
Usuthu won the national league title in 1972 with the team that had the late Sugar Ray Xulu, Eric “Nduna KaNdaba” Ngidi and Frederick Mfeka starring for the Durban club, and McCarthy, who is linked with a move to Bafana Bafana, may well deliver that title for a club that last won a trophy in 1992.