AmaZulu beat Orlando Pirates 1-0 in a drab Absa Premiership encounter at the packed Princess Magogo Stadium in Durban on Sunday.
AmaZulu striker Dumisani Ngwenya scored the only goal of the game to send his team into the top half of the table. Pirates are seventh with 21 points and AmaZulu are a point and place below them.
Pirates started with their top-striker Excellent Walaza on the bench but he replaced ineffective Zimbabwean striker Ralf Matema at the start of the second half.
Lebohang Mokoena came on for Joseph Makhanya but these changes did little to change the complexion of the game as AmaZulu defended astutely to deny Bucs an equaliser.
The visitors desperately threw their players forward but to no avail.
After the 2010 African Cup of Nations in Ghana the league resumes for AmaZulu on February 11 against Mamelodi Sundowns and Pirates face Moroka Swallows on February 13. – Sapa