AmaZulu to target brittle backline
ONE more win, against Polokwane City tonight, and AmaZulu will move off the foot of the Absa Premiership standings.
All going well, AmaZulu could even move out of the relegation zone – if they win, and Moroka Swallows slip up at Chippa United.
With fellow strugglers Free State Stars not playing tonight, the Durban side would overtake them with victory against Polokwane at Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu (7.30pm).
This is the second of AmaZulu’s final five home games of the season for which they recently launched the Usuthu Unite supporters’ campaign. In the first match they edged Free State 1-0 to close the gap on their rivals to two points.
This outing against Polokwane is the first of a threegame home run – thereafter they tackle Platinum Stars and SuperSport United – and on paper it’s the one they can bank on for maximum points.
Stopping the side with the third-highest goal tally in the league from scoring will take some doing.
Eighth-placed Polokwane have fired blanks in only four matches thus far, and their 35 goals from 24 games is bettered only by Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates.
Those two giants, and log leaders Kaizer Chiefs, accounted for those four matches in which Kosta Papic’s men failed to score.
AmaZulu’s defence is not as tight as those top teams, which suggests their best bet for a win will be to outscore the visitors.
That is what worked well for them through a five-game unbeaten run that ended with the loss at Chiefs last week.
Whether through set pieces or open play, the Durban outfit have found goals easier to come by recently. It’s a massive boost, then, to have five-goal leading scorer, midfielder Goodman Dlamini, back from suspension. Striker Bonginkosi Ntuli also returns after a two-game ban.
They were likely to be in the starting line-up, said coach Steve Barker.
“There will be changes – before his red card Ntuli had three goals in three games. Goodman has been good all season, so it’s good to have them back,” said Barker.
Barker’s game plan needs to be spot on to contain joint league top-scorer Puleng Tlolane (10 goals) and take advantage of their brittle backline.
While they are among the sharpest shooters, Polokwane are the league’s worst defenders, with 44 goals.
“Polokwane are tricky and play with numbers, so if we don’t close them down they will be dangerous,” Barker said.
“We’ve got to be compact and tight, but also be positive. They concede a lot of goals, and we need to ask a lot of questions of their defence.”
Neighbours Maritzburg United, who travel to Mpumalanga Black Aces tonight, will also wish for an AmaZulu victory.
If Maritzburg outsmart Aces, and AmaZulu topple Polokwane, then the Team of Choice will get back into the top eight.