Despite wasting several good opportunities, AmaZulu picked up their second consecutive win in the CAF Champions League on Friday evening.
Usuthu beat Algerian side ES Setif 1-0 at home, thanks to a first-half goal by Luvuyo Memela, who continued his fine goalscoring form.
Augustine Mulenga missed an early chance after rounding the goalkeeper before missing an empty net to give his side the lead inside the first minute.
The game remained fairly even for large parts of the first half, with both sides failing to create real goalscoring opportunities.
The visitors were lucky not to go down to 10 men in the 29th minute after Amir Karaoke brought down Matarr Ceesay, stopping a promising counter, having already been booked but the referee opted to keep the second yellow card in his pocket.
Veli Mothwa was called into action in the 35th minute when Setif’s right-back Khoutir Ziti appeared free in front of the goalkeeper, but his brave challenge deflected the ball to a corner.
The Usuthu shot stopper again had to intervene from the following corner, pushing an overhead kick from the following corner over the bar.
Just as last week against Horoya, it was Luvuyo Memela who gave AmaZulu the lead with a shot from outside the box before half-time.
Siphelele Mthembu had a great chance to add AmaZulu’s second in the 54th minute after creating some space in the Setif box with a fine turn but his shot went far wide.
Benni McCarthy’s men were dominating large parts of the second half, but failed to add to the scoreline.
However, the win saw the DStv Premiership go to six points in Group B, continuing their fine run in their maiden CAF Champions League campaign and opening the door for the quarter-finals of the competition.
