AmaZulu FC secured a vital 2-1 KZN Derby win over Richards Bay FC to jump into third place in the Premier Soccer League. The victory saw Usuthu leapfrog Kaizer Chiefs in the standings, though Chiefs hold a game in hand.
Usuthu's current league standing is fourth, with seven points from two wins, a draw, and a loss across four games. Their recent form reads LWDW, and they have scored six goals while conceding six. The win puts them six points behind early leaders Orlando Pirates in the title race.
How did the KZN Derby unfold?
The match at Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu was a tense affair. AmaZulu FC hit the woodwork early, with Athini Maqokola striking the crossbar in the 29th minute. The breakthrough came seven minutes after the restart. Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya powered home a header from the centre of the box following a swift counter-attack to put Usuthu ahead.
Richards Bay fought back and earned a penalty in the 80th minute after Lundi Mahala was fouled in the box by Gape Moralo. Moses Mthembu stepped up and converted the spot-kick to level the score. The parity was short-lived. Just two minutes later, Hendrick Ekstein set up Nkosikhona Radebe, who finished with a right-footed shot into the bottom left corner to seal the three points for AmaZulu FC.
What does this mean for the league table?
This derby win was important for momentum. By taking all three points, AmaZulu FC climbed above Kaizer Chiefs into third position. The battle for the top spots is tight, and every point counts. You can track the evolving picture on our standings page. The team will look to maintain this form ahead of a run of games you can check on our fixtures page.
What happened elsewhere in the PSL?
In another Betway Premiership fixture at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Marumo Gallants and Polokwane City FC played out a 2-2 draw. Polokwane took a very early lead through Tidimalo Molokwane in the 3rd minute. Msindisi Kunene equalised for Gallants in the 17th minute with a long-range strike assisted by Moremi Seketso. Bonginkosi Dlamini then put Polokwane back ahead with a curling effort from outside the box in the 25th minute. Just before halftime, Polokwane defender Lebohang Nkaki scored an own goal with a header to make it 2-2, which is how the match ended.
Who stood out for AmaZulu FC?
The victory was built on key contributions across the pitch. Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya's headed goal demonstrated his aerial threat and timing. The decisive moment, however, came from the combination of Hendrick Ekstein and Nkosikhona Radebe. Ekstein's vision and pass created the chance, and Radebe showed composure to finish under pressure just moments after Richards Bay had equalised. This resilience will be vital as the season progresses, and you can review the contributions of the entire squad on our stats page. AmaZulu FC's next match is against Stellenbosch FC on September 12.
