AmaZulu win five-goal thriller against Cape Town City

AmaZulu left it late to record a 3-2 victory over Cape Town City in a thrilling encounter at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday night.

Having seemingly come from a goal down to win the DStv Premiership tie, City found themselves without a point after a late flurry of goals from the home team.

Usuthu went ahead through Mbongeni Gumede on six minutes but Khanyisa Mayo levelled with 26 minutes played and Tshegofatso Nyama was on target on 58 minutes.

But second-half Usuthu substitute Sede Junior Dion popped up with two injury time goals to steal the spotlight and the three points.

There was a frenetic start to this DStv Premiership encounter and it took just five minutes for AmaZulu to break the deadlock, with Gumede firing into the back of the net after a well-worked free-kick.

City responded with Khanyisa Mayo just wide with a shot from a tight angle following a good pass from Thabo Nodada.

Hendrick Ekstein then hit the crossbar as Usuthu looked to extend their lead, while Mayo fired in another effort, this time on 24 minutes, but again with no reward.

City’s Darwin Gonzalez forced a save from AmaZulu stopper Veli Mothwa but Mayo was finally paid for his persistance with an equalising goal as he curled his ball home with a fine effort on 26 minutes.

The goal only seemed to spur both teams on and Tshegofatso Nyama should have done better with effort moments later that he put just off target, as Nodada saw his fierce drive blocked with the first half winding down.

Ethan Brooks got the second half underway with a shot on goal that was just too high, and it took a full ten minutes for the next real opportunity as Mayo looked to add to his tally, only to be crowded out as he fired in on goal.

But Nyama was given enough room to get his effort away just two minutes later, having latched on to a good ball from Juan Zapata and put City into the lead for the first time in the game.

The match was no City’s to lose and Riaan Hanamub came close with a strong shot that was kept out on 68 minutes as Abbubaker Mobara was blocked as he fought to find another home goal.

Sede Dion got two headers in on goal and then a third, and with the clash on its last legs, in the 91st minute, the second half substitute was left unattended to tap home from close range, to seemingly hand his side a hard-earned point.

But not content with drawing the game, AmaZulu claimed all three points as Sede got his second of the night with a shot that arrowed away from City’s Bongani Mpandle and into the bottom corner of the net.