AmaZulu FC fought back from being both a goal and a man down to secure a 1-1 draw with Siwelele FC in a Betway Premiership match at the Dr Molemela Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Bloemfontein club appeared in full control when they were 1-0 up thanks to Vincent Pule, and had a numerical advantage after a red card for Nkosikhona Radebe, but Usuthu’s Mlondi Mbanjwa scored a late equaliser to see the spoils shared.
The result leaves Siwelele in 10th place on the log, four points off the top half, while AmaZulu remain in fourth, level on points with third-placed Kaizer Chiefs (though the Soweto giants have played three fewer matches).
After a messy start from both teams, the match settled into a back-and-forth rhythm in which half-chances were created regularly.
One of AmaZulu’s brightest early moments arrived in the 26th minute when Radebe skipped free down the right and fired a low shot at goal from a tight angle, but Siwelele goalkeeper Ricardo Goss made the save at his near post.
Siwelele then claimed the lead on the half-hour mark, as Ghampani Lungu curled in a cross from the right and Vincent Pule perfectly directed a header beyond the reach of goalkeeper Olwethu Mzimela to make it 1-0.
AmaZulu went into the break a goal down and looked to restore parity early in the second half, with a notable chance arriving in the 57th minute when they put Athini Maqokola in on goal, but before he could pull the trigger one-on-one with the goalkeeper, Siwelele defender Siyabonga Ndebele made a desperate tackle to stop the Usuthu man in his tracks.
The visitors then went down to 10 men on the hour mark when Radebe, already on a yellow card, picked up a second caution for a debatable case of simulation on the edge of the penalty area, leading to his dismissal.
Despite being down a man, Usuthu levelled the game in the 81st minute when substitute Mondli Mbanjwa stole possession off Pogiso Sanoka high up the field before firing a shot beyond Goss to make it 1-1.
Siwelele pushed to restore their lead in what remained of the game – coming especially close in the 87th minute when AmaZulu cleared a ball off their own goal line – but ultimately the encounter closed at one goal apiece.
The teams will be back in Premiership action next Saturday, with Siwelele away to Marumo Gallants, and AmaZulu visiting Orlando Pirates.
Siwelele FC (1) 1 (Pule 30’)
AmaZulu FC (0) 1 (Mbanjwa 81’)
Siwelele: Goss, Mfolozi, Sanoka, Ndebele (Baloyi 68’), Rapoo, Margeman, Moralo (Luthuli 79’), Lungu, Pule (Mazibuko 79’), Potsane (Baliti 80’), Ohizu (Sekgota 68’)
AmaZulu: Mzimela, Allan, Fielies, Mthethwa, Radebe, Zikhali, Bern (Sithole 70’), Hanamub, Maqokola (Mashigo 81’), Ekstein (Mbanjwa 70’), Matlhoko (Mhlongo 70’)