Manzini rescues point for AmaZulu

AmaZulu came back to hold Platinum Stars to a 1-1 draw in an Absa Premiership match at the King Zwelithini Stadium on Saturday night.

The draw sees Usuthu move up to seventh spot on the league table, while Dikwena remain 16th on the standings.

Dikwena kept possession very well in the early exchanges as they looked to penetrate the Usuthu defence which was led by Sadat Ouro-Akoriko.

The visitors deservedly took the lead in the 20th minute after the AmaZulu defence had failed to clear their lines.

Thabang Sesinyi, the new Stars forward, pounced and he beat Usuthu goalkeeper Siyabonga Mbatha to make it 1-0 to the visitors.

AmaZulu then dominated possession as Stars sat back, but they were dangerous on the counter-attack.

Sibongakonke Mbatha made a good run down the midfield in the 28th minute and he forced Mbatha into a good low save.

Sesinyi had a chance to grab his brace on the stroke of halftime following another good run by South Africa youth international Mbatha.

However, Usuthu keeper Mbatha made a comfortable save from the Stars striker's effort and the score was 1-0 to Dikwena at interval.

AmaZulu suffered a blow a few minutes into the second-half as Tapelo Nyongo went down injured and he was replaced by Vukile Mngqibisa.

However, the home side were awarded a penalty after Stars defender Willem Mwedihanga was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box.

Rhulani Manzini then made no mistake from the spot-kick as he hit the back of the net to make it 1-1 much to the delight of the home crowd.

Usuthu were in control of the match and they were now looking to take the lead for the first time on the night.

With time running out, Samuel Darpoh tried to beat Stars keeper Mbongeni Mzimela from range, but the goal-minder made an easy save.

Pressure mounted on Stars in the closing stages of the match, but they managed to contain AmaZulu and the game ended in a 0-0 draw.

AmaZulu (0) 1 (Manzini 61')

P Stars (1) 1 (Sesinyi 20')

Teams:

AmaZulu: Mbatha, Mtsweni, Gumede, Nyongo (Mngqibisa 57'), Ouro-Akoriko, Darboh, Ncube, Ncobeni, S.Dlamini (B.Mbatha 66'), Cele, Manzini (Khenyeza 84').

Platinum Stars: Mzimela, Ntuli, Jongh, Mere, Zulu, Mlilo, Mwedihanga, Ng'ambi (Kunene 88'), Mkhabela, Mbatha (Mpeta 73'), Sesinyi.