AmaZulu suffered a 1-0 loss to ten-man Nyasa Big Bullets in the first leg of their CAF Champions League preliminary round tie on Friday evening.
Result: AmaZulu 0-1 Nyasa Big Bullets
Date: 10 September 2021
Venue: Moses Mabhida Stadium
Kgotso Moleko was given his first start for Usuthu while Lehlohonolo Majoro started upfront with Siphelele Mthembu and Siyethemba Sithebe starting on the bench.
The encounter got off to a lively start as the hosts felt they should have had a penalty in the opening 15 minutes when the referee blew for a foul outside the box, despite the players claiming it was inside.
Usuthu were unable to make their early dominance count, as Bullets broke the deadlock in the 27th minute after a mix-up at the back allowed Nickson Nyasulu to fire home the opening goal.
The end of the half proved to be a lively affair as the visitors were reduced to 10 men when Yamikani Fodya was shown a straight red card for a reckless change just moments after they hit the woodwork.
The home side dominated the second half as they went in search of an equaliser with the numerical advantage, although clear-cut chances were hard to come by early on.
Usuthu coach Benni McCarthy looked to his substitutes bench to bolster his attack with time running out, with Keagan Buchanan, Mthembu and Sithebe added to the side.
Malepe had a chance to bring the side level in the closing stages but a neat passing move in the final third, the defender blazed over the crossbar from just inside the box.
The woodwork came to Big Bullets' rescue minutes later when Buchanan rattled the woodwork after Usuthu had a penalty appeal dismissed, as the visitors take a one-goal lead into the second leg.
AmaZulu: Mothwa, Moleko, Xoki, Malepe, Zulu, Mlambo, Makhaula, Qalinge, Luvuyo, Majoro, Maduna.
Subs: Boshoff, Mgwazela, Mzava, Gumede, Masilela, Buchanan, Sithebe, Ekstein, Mthembu.
