AmaZulu cemented their position in the top eight with a 1-0 win over Richards Bay FC on Friday evening.
Betway Premiership
Result: AmaZulu 1-0 Richards Bay
Date: 04 April 2025
Venue: King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium
Usuthu coach Arthur Zwane handed recalls to goalkeeper Richard Ofori, Bongani Zungu and Thembela Sikhakhane following the defeat to Chippa United last weekend, while the visitors brought Ian Otieno and Mxolisi Macuphu back into their line-up.
The hosts dominated proceedings in the early stages of the first half but were only able to trouble the returning Otieno with a couple efforts from distance in the opening 20 minutes.
The Natal Rich Boyz, meanwhile, were unsurprisingly a bit more defensive in the first period and allowed their city rivals to enjoy possession in areas of the pitch where they were unable to create any clear-cut openings.
Unfortunately for the supporters in attendance, that was the trend for the remainder of the first half as both Ofori and Otieno barley had a save to make in the opening 45 minutes.
Both sides came out for the second period with a bit more attacking prowess, with Usuthu defender Ramahlwe Mphahlele needed to make a vital block in his own box to deny Richards Bay the opening goal just before the hour mark.
Th opening goal did arrive in the 69th minute as defender Taariq Fielies got his first goal of the season for AmaZulu by firing home from close range after Richards Bay failed to deal with a corner.
Richards Bay pushed for a way back into the clash as the second half drew to a close but they were unable to find a way past Ofori, with Yamela Mbuthuma and Lindokuhle Zikhali squandering chances in the final ten minutes.
The win sees Usuthu remain in seventh spot, but they move four points clear of Kaizer Chiefs while the Natal Rich Boyz missed the chance to pull clear of the drop zone.
Here's how they lined up:
AmaZulu: 50. Ofori, 5. Sikhakhane, 4. Hanamub, 23. Mphahlele, 12. Fielies, 34. Zungu, 18. Brooks, 19. Moremi, 8. Motshwari, 93. Kambindu, 14. Radebe
Subs: 44. Mothwa, 17. Gumede, 42. Mthethwa, 27. Ekstein, 25. Ngobeni, 15. Mbanjwa, 39. Mashigo, 9. Ighodaro, 21. Human
Richards Bay: 1. Otieno, 22. Mabuya, 3. Ndaba, 72. Mabua, 5. Allan, 6. Mthethwa, 77. Conco, 20. Mthembu, 9. Mbuthuma, 36. Zihkhali, 17. Gumede
Subs: 45. Manqele, 27. Bomelo, 33. Ngema, 11. Kutumela, 21. Mhlongo, 29. Macuphu, 37. Zulu, 35. Ndelu, 47. Mntungwa
