AmaZulu ended their 24-year long winless run against Kaizer Chiefs in Durban after beating the Soweto giants 4-0 in what was a brilliant first half at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday night.
It was Chiefs rejects of Dumisani Zuma, Ramahlwe Mphahlele, both with headers against their former club, who haunted Chiefs to start the rout.
Junior Dion added a third, intercepting a poor back pass to bypass Itumeleng Khune to score the third just before half time, while Bongi Ntuli added his side’s fourth in injury-time in the second half.
To be fair, Chiefs tried to come back in the second half. Nkosingiphile Ngcobo went close and so was Kgaogelo Sekgota, whose shot was tipped by Veli Mothwa.
It was a bad day in the office for Chiefs as Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana missed a penalty in the first half after Zuma had scored for Usuthu. But Veli Mothwa was up to the task to make an easy save.
Thabo Qalinge signaled Usuthu’s intent, cutting inside in the fifth minute to stung Itumeleng Khune’s hands.
Qalinge, just like Pule Ekstein, needed to impress coach Romain Folz, as both were banished by the club at the start of the season.
The former Pirates winger was involved in Zuma’s first goal, as his powerful shot was deflected for a corner. The Pietermaritzburg-born striker nodded in an easy finish in the 14th minute, to score his first goal with AmaZulu.
AmaZulu’s joy was almost short-lived as returnee defender Abbubaker Mobara threw his hands in the face of Ashley du Preez and referee Masixole Bambiso pointed to the spot.
However, Mothwa dived to his right, saving what was poorly taken penalty by PSL joint-top goalscorer Bimenyimana, leaving coach Arthur Zwane dismayed on the bench.
Mphahlele added the second in the 38th minute with a header, again unmarked from the corner kick delivered by another former Chiefs midfielder George Maluleka. He, just like Zuma, did not celebrate in respect to his former club.
Edmilson Dove’s attempted back pass gave Khune in all sort of trouble and Dion closed the veteran keeper down to score the third for Usuthu
Zwane had refreshed the squad, giving the first start to Mduduzi Shabalala, who was the star of the DDC last season for the club. He showed good touches and when presented with a goal in the first half, though at an acute angle, blasted it wide when he should have located his fellow teammates.
Better decision making will come with time because he is a fearless player.
This was AmaZulu’s first league win over Chiefs in Durban since Jabu Mnguni, Dylan Pillay and Simon Magagula scored as they won 3-2, with Thabang Lebese and Siyabong Nomvete scoring for Chiefs on 24 March 1999.
That 24 years of wait for Usuthu to pick up a win over their illustrious rivals in the league is now over. Because of that, fans quickly vanished off before the game ended.
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