AmaZulu will look to ‘fix the country’ in Durban after securing a 1-1 draw against Kaizer Chiefs in their first-leg MTN8 semi-final, according to head coach Brandon Truter.
The 10 men of Usuthu secured the draw at Soccer City on Sunday afternoon with a Keagan Dolly second-half strike cancelling out Gabdinho Mhango’s 14th-minute opener.
Usuthu looked to contain Chiefs after taking the lead and more so after the red card of Veluyeke Zulu in the 54th minute which was the start of a send-off frenzy from Victor Gomes in the heated cup tie.
But Truter remained upbeat about the result and stated they will look to secure a place in the final, despite knowing Chiefs fans might outnumber them in their own home ground later this month.
“I think for us, being reduced to ten men at around the 60th minute, having an away goal, coming away 1-1 and then going to Durban, so for us – it’s a very good result,” Truter said.
“[We’ll] try and fix the country in Durban. Wherever Chiefs play, we saw it last time in Durban when they were at Moses Mabhida, they filled up the stadium, but for us, we just call on the Usuthu supporters to help us in that regard.
“But for us, talking about the result and the game, I think in the first half we were very good. We played right through the press, they found it difficult to contain us at certain moments and that’s where the goal came from.
“We played right through them. But yeah, one or two balls over the top, through balls, with Ashley du Preez running on to it, it caused some panic buttons in defence and that’s how they got back [into the game].
“We should have remained calm, managed it better, but at least we came into the break at 1-0 up – but then we got the red card and for their goal as well, we had numbers to stop the cross but it trickled over two players boots and luck was on their side to get the equaliser, but for us, it’s a good result.”
Usuthu will face up against Richards Bay, Orlando Pirates and Maritzburg United before their return leg against Amakhosi on 23 October.
