ANDREW MUCHINERIPI, Pretoria | Monday 3.20pm
AMAZULU conceded a soft, first-half goal at Free State Stars on Sunday that settled a crucial Castle Premiership match and could condemn the Durban club to First Division football next season.
When Stars were awarded a free kick outside the penalty area there appeared to be no immediate threat, but goalkeeper Pelewe Delamogo allowed a shot from Thato Mokoena to slip between his hands.
It was the only goal of a dour struggle marred by fighting between players and between supporters and AmaZulu are back in the relegation zone with just away fixtures at Classic and Ajax Cape Town left.
Usuthu coach Eddie Lewis was in no mood for diplomaticspeak, laying the blame for defeat at the hands to Delamogo, a native of the Democratic Republic of Congo who has been in and out of the team this season.
“Pelewe had a shocking match today,” Lewis said. “Many of his teammates did not play well either, but I believe we deserved a draw. A lack of penetration cost us dearly.”
A gloomy day for the once-mighty Durban club was completed by the news that fellow-strugglers SuperSport United snatched a last-minute goal at Caledonian Stadium to triumph 1-0 against Wits University.
Not for the first time this season, diminutive Cameroonian midfielder Jean-Paul Bang-Penda came to the rescue, diving to head a Seuntjie Motlhajwa cross past Rowen Fernandez.
Kaizer Chiefs have become quite fond of winning matches 1-0 and their latest victims were Moroka Swallows in a lively floodlit match at Johannesburg Stadium. Jacob Tshisevhe headed the first-half winner off a Doctor Khumalo corner.