ANDREW MUCHINERIPI, Johannesburg | Monday 9.00am
A GOAL minute into injury time from former Bafana Bafana striker Pollen Ndlanya gave relegation-threatened AmaZulu a 1-0 win over Classic in a tense Castle Premiership match at Makhulong Stadium.
The three points by no means assure the Usuthu of survival, but another win at Ajax Cape Town in their final match on May 21 could see the famous Durban club dodge the trap door once again.
AmaZulu crossed from the right and left so often without success during the second half of the match that it seemed they would not score even if play continued until darkness descended over the East Rand township of Tembisa.
But Ndlanya, closely marked throughout, had other ideas and when Wonderboy Ncgoya swung another cross into the heart of the penalty area, he controlled the ball with his chest and rifled a low, right-foot shot into the net.
It was a cruel ending for Classic, who had Arthur Zwane sent off by referee Jerome Damon in first-half injury-time for elbowing Alban Newman in retaliation for being fouled.
After an even first half spoilt by crude tackling that led to one red card, three yellow ones and 26 fouls, the match developed into a battle of wits between the Classic defence and AmaZulu attack.
Expensive signings Ndlanya and Jerry Sikhosana were well off target within 60 seconds midway through the half and a good display from Classic goalkeeper Idah Peterside added to Usuthu frustrations.
Visiting coach Eddie Lewis brought on Vassili Sofiadellis and Ernest Marumo without heightening the threat from a team that appeared far too lax at times given their desperate plight.