Late Ntuli goal helps AmaZulu FC snatch first league win

AmaZulu FC coach Jozef Vukušič was delighted for his players after they ended a run of five months without victory by edging Cape Town City 2-1 in their Absa Premiership meeting in KwaMashu on Tuesday night.

Bongi Ntuli turned out to be the hero at the Princess Magogo Stadium, latching on to a Sandile Khumalo ball deep into stoppage time, breaking away down the left and squeezing the ball beyond the onrushing Peter Leeuwenburgh to secure a priceless three points for the league’s previously bottom side.

It was new coach Vukušič’s first win in his third game since taking charge and the Slovak was delighted afterward.

Before that, Usuthu had enjoyed a relatively comfortable match in front of a sparse crowd in KwaMashu.

They started out brightly and earned a deserved lead when Ntuli and Talent Chawapiwa brilliantly exchanged a string of neat one-two passes, before the former Mamelodi Sundowns man fired them ahead after 10 minutes.

City rallied thereafter, bossing possession and eventually replying courtesy of a fortuitous Siyabonga Mbatha own goal that levelled matters at 1-1. But Ntuli then had the final say, with his coach Vukušič admitting they did well to beat a very tough City side.

City Assistant coach Vasili Manousakis, meanwhile, was not too happy with the result, admitting that things were not going too smoothly for the club at the moment.

It was their second defeat of a campaign in which they have managed just one win and five draws to date.

That has left them in 10^th spot with eight points, three more than AmaZulu in 14^th. Manousakis believes lapses in concentration were letting them down.

The pressure is undoubtedly building on coach Benni McCarthy, who did not attend post-match media duties in KwaMashu, opting to send his number two instead.

And Manousakis conceded that confidence and morale was currently low in the Citizens’ dressing room, adding that the players need some time off to regroup.

And he hoped they would come back refreshed next week. – Report by Thahir Asmal

TUESDAY THRILLER ?

? Siya Mbatha

➡️ Fighting Spirit
➡️ Credit to Players
➡️ Grateful to team management #Usuthi_Pride pic.twitter.com/RluYDpRVpa

— AmaZulu FC (@AmaZuluFootball) October 1, 2019

⚽️ BALLER ⚽️

Bongi Ntuli grabs the Man of the Match Award after a leading the team to a thrilling victory in KwaMashu. #Usuthu_Pride pic.twitter.com/hPTxZBKiDW

— AmaZulu FC (@AmaZuluFootball) October 1, 2019