Stellenbosch FC moved back into the top three in the Betway Premiership after defeating AmaZulu 1-0 on Tuesday evening.
Betway Premiership
Result: Stellenbosch FC 1-0 AmaZulu
Date: 15 April 2025
Venue: Danie Craven Stadium
Stellies coach Steve Barker rang the changes after the win over Zamalek in the CAF Confederation Cup, as goalkeeper Oscarine Masuluke, Ibraheem Jabaar, Sanele Barns, Lesiba Nku and Khomotjo Lekoloane were brought into the starting line-up.
Usuthu, meanwhile, handed a first-team debut to Bayanda Thabede, who has netted 12 goals in the DStv Diski Challenge this season.
The home side were forced to make a change ten minutes into the first half as striker Ashley Cupido picked up an apparent hamstring and had to be replaced by Langelihle Phili.
Despite losing their first-choice striker, Stellenbosch went on to take the lead in the 28th minute when Usuthu goalkeeper Richard Ofori failed to collect a corner, which allowed Sanele Barns to pounce and fire into an empty net for his second goal of the season.
AmaZulu did have a couple chances to get themselves back into the game in the latter stages of the first half, with Elmo Kambindu going closest with a towering header that was brilliantly kept out by Masuluke at the far post.
After struggling to breakdown the Stellenbosch defence, Usuthu coach Arthur Zwane made his first change on the hour mark by adding striker Etiosa Ighodaro in place of midfielder Ethan Brooks, while the home side introduced Sihle Nduli and Genino Palace.
Even with the introductions, AmaZulu still found it tough to carve out any clear-cut openings while Palace and Devin Titus did have chances of their own to extend Stellenbosch's lead in the closing stages but failed to convert.
Nevertheless, Barker's charges were able to see out the closing stages with relative ease to secure the win and reclaim third spot with six games left of the campaign.
Here's how they lined up:
AmaZulu: 50. Ofori, 05. Sikhakhane, 12. Fielies, 23. Mphahlele, 4. Hanamub, 18. Brooks, 34. Zungu, 8. Motshwari, 22. Thabede, 93. Kambindu, 19. Moremi
Subs: 44. Mothwa, 17. Gumede, 42. Mthethwa, 25. Ngobeni, 15. Mbanjwa, 27. Ekstein, 9. Ighodaro, 39. Mashigo, 21. Human
Stellenbosch: 30. Masuluke, 24. Moloisane, 45. Toure, 16. Kazie, 21. Basadien, 19. Khiba, 27.Jabaar, 20. Barns, 5. Lekoloane, 7. Nku, 9. Cupido
Subs: 35. Langeveldt, 26. Mcaba, 3. Mdaka, 8. Nduli, 28. Palace, 11. Phili, 12. Mini, 18. De Jong, 34. Titus
