AmaZulu FC's unbeaten start to the Betway Premiership season came to a crashing end with a 5-2 defeat away to Mamelodi Sundowns on Wednesday night. The result at Loftus Versfeld leaves Usuthu fourth in the Premier Soccer League with seven points from four games, three points behind leaders Orlando Pirates.
Brayan Leon opened the scoring for the hosts in the 25th minute, with Teboho Mokoena doubling the advantage seven minutes later. Tashreeq Matthews made it three shortly after half-time before Leon grabbed his second of the night. Bennet Mokoena completed the scoring for Sundowns deep into stoppage time. For AmaZulu, Ngwenya scored twice in the second half to provide a brief response, but the damage was already done.
How did the match unfold?
The game started with Sundowns showing intent after their weekend loss to Golden Arrows. AmaZulu held firm initially, with Siyanda Ndlovu keeping his place in the starting line-up. Sundowns' pressure told midway through the first half when Leon found the net. Teboho Mokoena, returning from an absence dating to the opening game, then struck to give the champions a commanding lead. Just before the break, AmaZulu goalkeeper Wilfried Kouassi was forced into a superb save to deny Cassius Mailula a powerful strike.
Any hope of a comeback was quickly extinguished after the restart. Matthews scored his first league goal of the campaign just six minutes into the second half. Leon then netted his second, taking his personal tally for the league season to two. Ngwenya pulled one back for AmaZulu almost immediately, and then added another in the 70th minute to make it 4-2. Bennet Mokoena's late goal, his first of the league campaign, sealed a comprehensive 5-2 victory for the home side.
What did the coaches say after the game?
Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso acknowledged his team's strong reaction to a prior defeat. "We were eager to restore some pride after the defeat to Golden Arrows over the weekend," Cardoso said. His AmaZulu counterpart, Arthur Zwane, reflected on a difficult night for his team. "We were trying our best to keep AmaZulu in the contest," Zwane stated, highlighting the effort despite the scoreline.
Where does this leave AmaZulu in the league?
The defeat is AmaZulu's first of the 2026-27 campaign, ending an initial run of positive results. The team now sits fourth in the standings with a record of two wins, one draw, and one loss. Their goal difference stands at zero, having scored six and conceded six across their opening four fixtures. This leaves them within touching distance of the top but needing to respond quickly to stay in the early title conversation.
What are AmaZulu's next fixtures?
Arthur Zwane's side must now regroup for a challenging sequence of league matches. They travel to face Richards Bay next, before hosting Marumo Gallants and Polokwane City at home in their subsequent fixtures. Fans can track the full schedule on the club's fixtures page. The team will be aiming to bounce back and consolidate their position in the top half of the table, starting with the trip to Richards Bay.
