AmaZulu, Royal AM play to a goalless draw in KZN derby

AmaZulu FC were held to a 0-0 draw by Royal AM in the DStv Premiership match at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The draw saw Usuthu remain ninth on the league standings, while Thwihli Thwahla climbed up to second place on the log – leapfrogging Kaizer Chiefs. 

Usuthu saw most of the ball in the opening proceedings and they fired the game’s first shot on the target when goalkeeper Hugo Nyame made a fine save to deny Andre De Jong in the 12th minute.

Keagan Buchanan, who had set up De Jong, was a busy man in the middle of the park pulling the strings as AmaZulu looked to break the deadlock against their KwaZulu-Natal rivals.

Thwihli Thwahla were awarded a free-kick in a promising area in the 33rd minute and their long-range specialist Lantshane Phalane unleashed a shot which flew over keeper Veli Mothwa’s goal-posts.

The score was 0-0 during the half-time break with AmaZulu having started the game brightly, but they couldn’t open the scoring.

Nyame was the busier of the two keepers in the opening stages of the second-half as the Cameroonian shot-stopper produced a magnificent save to deny Luvuyo Memela, who had been set-up by De Jong. 

Having become a constant threat to the Royal AM defence, De Jong tried his luck from range and his effort which was heading for the top right corner was superbly saved by Nyame with the visitors’ defence exposed.

Thembela Sikhakhane should have handed Usuthu the lead after he had rounded Nyame, but somehow the former Orlando Pirates full-back fired wide of the target with the goal gaping from close range. 

The last chance of the game fell for Victor Letsoalo in stoppage time after Mothwa had punched the ball into his path, but the Royal AM striker’s effort flew over the crossbar and the match ended in a 0-0 stalemate. 

In other DStv Premiership played on Saturday afternoon, Swallows FC fought back to hold Maritzburg United to a 1-1 draw in the DStv Premiership match at the Dobsonville Stadium.

Therefore, Amaswaiswai and the Team of Choice remained 16th and 11th respectively on the league standings as Wandisile Letlabika cancelled out Bongokuhle Hlongwane’s opening goal in Soweto.

Golden Arrows made it back-to-back wins in the DStv Premiership as they held on for a 2-1 victory over Chippa United at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

The two teams went into the break tied at 1-1 after Eva Nga Bienvenu had cancelled out Michael Gumede’s opener for Lehlohonolo Seema’s side, who went back in front through Pule Mmodi early in the second half to clinch all three points.

Copy courtesy of the Premier Soccer League