Usuthu win, Arrows relegated

AmaZulu returned to winning ways in the Absa Premiership when they defeated Lamontville Golden Arrows 1-0 at the Princess Magogo Stadium on Tuesday night.

Ayanda Dlamini scored the only goal of the match to send Usuthu into seventh place with 42 points from 29 matches.

The visitors almost opened the scoring in the first minute of the game when Christopher Katongo was left unmarked on the right side of the box, but he was denied by a good block from Aubrey Mathibe.

Usuthu threatened in the 14^th minute but Njabulo Manqana sent his low shot just wide of the upright after Arrows had failed to clear a cross from Sifiso Hlanti.

Arthur Bartman made his first save of the match in the 20^th minute but he didn’t have to move much as Tamsanqa Teyise fired a powerful shot straight at him from a long way out.

Mathibe pulled off an even better stop at the other end, using his feet to deny Philani Shange following a brilliant counter-attack from Arrows.

Both sides then failed to hit the target as Bonginkosi Ntuli shot over the crossbar from outside the box in the 26^th minute, while Ayanda Dlamini was unable to keep his header down three minutes later.

In the 39^th minute Shange played a lobbed pass towards Festus Mbewe inside the box but his overhead attempt went just wide of goal.

Usuthu continued to probe forward but Ayanda Dlamini was saw his shot deflected wide in the 41^st minute, before Goodman Dlamini failed to hit the target three minutes later.

Mathibe pulled off another blinder of a save on the stroke of half-time, diving to his left to parry a curled effort from Thanduyise Khuboni.

Arrows had two good chances early in the second half but Mathibe reacted well to stop a shot from Rudolf Bester in the 54^th minute before denying Katongo six minutes later.

Ntuli then saw a goal disallowed for offside in the 64^th minute, while Manti Moholo failed to hit the target from the edge of the box five minutes later.

Ruzaigh Gamildien then shot wide of the post in the 7st minute but it was his corner which produced a goal ten minutes later as Ayanda headed home from close range.

Arrows pressed on for the equaliser but Usuthu were able to protect their lead to secure maximum points in their final home game of the season.

The defeat for Arrows means they have now been relegated from the top division as they remain at the bottom of the table with 21 points from 29 matches.

AmaZulu (0) 1 (Dlamini A 81’)

Lamontville Golden Arrows 0

AmaZulu: Mathibe, Mwedihanga, Hlanti, Mvalo, Teyise, Madondo, Arwuah (Gamildien 58’), Dlamini A, Manqana (Mthiyane 58’), Dlamini G, Nguzana (Ndulula 68’)

Lamontville Golden Arrows: Bartman, Zwane, Shange (Bester 46’), Mngwengwe, Sikhakhane, Khuboni, Nene, Moholo, Mbewe (Polelo 86’), Katongo, Ntuli

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