AmaZulu made history after qualifying for the CAF Champions League group stages with a 1-1 draw away to Congolese giants TP Mazembe on Saturday afternoon.
CAF Champions League
Result: TP Mazembe 1-1 AmaZulu (1-1 on aggregate)
Date: 23 October 2021
Venue: Stade TP Mazembe
Usuthu looked to pass the acid test with flying colours and for that banked heavily on the tried and tested such as Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Veli Mothwa.
Mazembe asked the first questions through an attempted shot at goal, but Usuthu defended strongly to see out the threat from their West African counterparts.
Stern piece of goalkeeping from Mothwa following the half-hour mark denied Soze Zemanga the chance to make the breakthrough moments before Ibrahim Mounkoro had a chance parried too.
Although after surviving all the pressure thrown their way, Usuthu went on to make the opener a little inside halftime courtesy of Bonginkosi Ntuli's smart finish.
Mazembe looked for an immediate reply from clever bit of play, but Mothwa was equal to the task with an outstanding save and was on guard to thwart the host again as the whistle for halftime blew.
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The South African side, who with their tails up following the breakthrough continued to bother their more fancied host with the second stanza fully off the mark.
A telling move around the danger zone by Keagan Buchanan and Luvuyo Memela nearly led to Usuthu's second following the latter's attempt but he was thwarted.
Mazembe continued to look for the leveller late on, whilst Usuthu introduced a double change in Andre De Jongh and Lehlohonolo Majoro.
The home side did go on to get an equaliser late in added time after Adam Bossu rattled the back of the net, but it wasn't enough as Usuthu progressed on the away goal rule.
Here's how they started:
AmaZulu: Mothwa, Gumede, Zulu, Sikhakhane, Mgwazela, Mlambo, Makhaula, Buchanan, Sithebe, Memela, Ntuli
Subs: Boshoff, Majoro, Ekstein, De Jong, Khumalo, Masilela, Mthembu.
