DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA – DECEMBER 06: Lucas Ribeiro Costa of Mamelodi Sundowns celebrates scoring during the DStv Premiership match between AmaZulu FC and Mamelodi Sundowns at King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium on December 06, 2023 in Durban, South Africa. (Photo by Darren Stewart/Gallo Images)n
Mamelodi Sundowns registered a tenth successive victory in the DStv Premiership after defeating AmaZulu 1-0 on Wednesday night.
Masandawana named three changes from the loss to TP Mazembe, with Grant Kekana, Abdelmounaim Boutouil and Sphelele Mkhulise replacing Brian Onyango, Terrence Mashego andThapelo Morena, as Usuthu dropped first-choice goalkeeper Veli Mothwa to hand Olwethu Mzimela a debut.
Sundowns were dominant after kickoff and were ahead on 20 minutes when Themba Zwane drew a foul from Mbongeni Gumede to win a penalty, leaving Lucas Ribeiro Costa to grab his seventh goal of the season from 12 yards.
Tempers began to boil over from the two set of benches as challenges went flying in on Mkhulise and Ethan Brooks at the opposite end.
Masandawana continued to have the better chances and could’ve doubled the lead with a first-time shot by Peter Shalulile in the area, but Mzimela pushed it away past the half-hour mark.
AmaZulu were forced to bring on a substitution five minutes to halftime with an injured Thembela Sikhakhane withdrawn for Celimpilo Ngema.
Usuthu enjoyed a strong finish to the first half with a succession of chances falling to Tshepang Moremi as the visitors timeously overturned possession but no goals followed.
The table-toppers’ lead came under threat a minute after halftime from a floated ball to the back-post following a corner-kick, but Taariq Fielies fluffed the chance with a poor first-touch.
Masandawana struggled to settle and play out of the back, leaving Usuthu to retrieve possession high-up to get in shots in through Sede Dion and Wayde Jooste but neither profited.
Usuthu did have the ball in the net midway in the second half when Hendrick Ekstein tucked in behind the centre-backs to slot in a through pass, but it was chalked off following an offside.
The match though became pretty open inside the closing quarter, with chances either side but neither team managed to take aim.
In the end, the Brazilians held their nerve to secure all the points on offer and a tenth successive league win too.
Confirmed line-ups:
AmaZulu: Mzimela, Jooste, Fielies, Gumede, Mobara, Hanamub, Sikhakhane, Brooks, Ekstein, Moremi, Dion.
Subs: Mbanjwa, Zulu, Hlangabeza, Mphahhlele, Ngema, Human, Mbanjwa, Ndlovu, Letsoalo.
Mamelodi Sundowns: Williams, Mudau, Boutouil, Kekana, Lebusa, Mokoena, Allende, Zwane, Ribeiro, Shalulile
Subs: D.Onyango, Mashego, Maboe, Nkosi, Morena, Maseko, Nku, Sirino, Nasir
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