NCUBE FIRES USUTHU TO VICTORY AT CHIPPA
AmaZulu FC recorded their second successive Absa Premiership win when they beat Chippa United 1-0 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Friday night.
As a result, Usuthu moved to 12th spot on the league standings after winning in Port Elizabeth, while the Chilli Boys slipped down to 14th place on the table.
Usuthu began the match brightly with Zimbabwean midfield maestro Butholezwe Ncube pulling the strings in the middle of the park.
Ncube and Sphesihle Maduna both tried their luck from range, but they could not hit the back of the net in the opening stages of the game.
AmaZulu’s Argentine striker Emiliano Tade was keeping the Chilli Boys defence busy with his movement around the hosts’ box.
Tade had a chance to put the visitors into the lead from a promising area in the 22nd minute, but his effort missed the target.
Usuthu, who were dominating possession, deservedly broke the deadlock three minutes before the halftime break.
Ncube was the man, who opened the scoring with a deflected shot which beat Chippa goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi to make it 1-0 to AmaZulu.
AmaZulu were leading 1-0 at the interval.
Eric Tinkler, the Chippa coach, made the first change prior to the start of the second-half as the hosts looked to level matters.
Defensive midfielder Buyani Sali replaced veteran attacking midfielder Kurt Lentjies, who had a quiet first-half.
Ruzaigh Gamildien and Thabo Rakhale tried to beat AmaZulu keeper Siyabonga Mbatha from range, but they could not beat the shot-stopper.
AmaZulu coach Cavin Johnson reacted by pulling out teenage sensation Sphesihle Maduna and he introduced Siyethemba Sithebe in the 72nd minute.
The Chilli Boys created chances in the closing stages of the game, but they were very wasteful as the likes of Zitha Macheke and Sali missed the target.
The visitors managed to weather the storm in the dying minutes of the encounter and ultimately, AmaZulu emerged 1-0 winners over Chippa on the night.
Chippa (0) 0
AmaZulu (1) 1 (Ncube 42′)
Chippa: Akpeyi, Macheke, Nsabiyumva, Mokeke, Rakhale, Timm, Komane (Shongwe 75′), Tlolane, Lentjies (Sali 46′), Gamildien, Seakanyeng (Manzine 65′).
AmaZulu: Mbatha, Sikhakhane (Gumede M 66′), Mabiliso, Van Heerden, Nyongo, Ncube, Vilakazi, Morton, Maduna (Sithebe 72′), Tade, Khenyeza (Ntuli 62′).
