Stellenbosch FC fought back to hold AmaZulu FC to a 1-1 draw in an Absa Premiership match at the Tuks Stadium on Wednesday evening.
The draw saw Stellies remain 10th on the league standings, while Usuthu climbed up to the 13th spot with one game left for both teams.
It was a tightly contested affair in the opening stages of the match with Stellenbosch and AmaZulu holding up well in midfield.
Neither side was able to break down the other with defensive midfielder Butholezwe Ncube pulling the strings in midfield for AmaZulu.
However, Usuthu’s two strikers Lehlohonolo Majoro and Bonginkosi Ntuli started combing well as the match progressed.
Majoro set-up Ntuli, who placed his effort wide of the target in the 21st minute as the bulky marksman looked to score his 14th league goal of the season.
The momentum was with Usuthu as Majoro forced Stellebosch goalkeeper Lee Langeveldt into a comfortable save just after the half-hour mark.
Langeveldt was then beaten nine minutes before halftime when Sphesihle Maduna hit the back of the net with a wonderful long-range shot to make it 1-0 to AmaZulu.
The score was 1-0 to AmaZulu at the interval thanks to Maduna’s beautiful 38th-minute goal.
Usuthu continued to attack after the start as they searched for another goal against Stellies, who were forced to defend in numbers.
Mogamad Ge Goede, who was recently named Man of the Match after a clash against Chippa United, was working tirelessly in the Stellenbosch defence.
However, the hosts improved as the second-half progressed and they threatened through Ashley Du Preez a few minutes after the hour-mark.
The 23-year-old attacker’s deflected shot was well-saved by Siyabonga Mbatha, who was alert in the AmaZulu goal-posts.
Stellies did level matters when Du Preez found Leletu Skelem and the latter beat Mbatha to make it 1-1 with eight minutes left on the clock.
The last goal ensured the encounter ended in a 1-1 draw with Stellenbosch and AmaZulu sharing the spoils.
Stellenbosch (0) 1 (Du Preez 82′)
AmaZulu (1) 1 (Maduna 38′)
Stellenbosch: Langeveldt; De Goede, Johannes, Robertson, Mobbie, Scott (Msengi 74′), Sinkala (Bergman 86′), Van Heerden (Mbekile 46′), Skelem (Moon 86′), Isaacs (Franco 46′), Du Preez.
AmaZulu: Mbatha; M. Gumede, Xoki, Booysen, Mabiliso, Maduna, Sithebe, Ncube, Magubane; Majoro (Lacny 88′), Ntuli (Darpoh 71′).©
SOURCED FROM THE PSL WEBSITE.
