Woes continue for Stellies after defeat to AmaZulu

Stellenbosch FC’s poor start to the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season continued unabated on Wednesday evening when they were beaten 2-1 by hosts AmaZulu FC at the Princess Magogo Stadium.

Fresh from a defeat to Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 final this past weekend, Stellies would have been hoping to spark their stuttering league campaign to life, but they conceded two goals to Usuthu’s Hendrick Ekstein late in the first half.

Langelihle Phili pulled one back in a fighting second-half performance from the Western Cape side, but it was not enough to avoid a fourth defeat from six matches, leaving them in 12th place on the log – just one point above the relegation zone.

The Durban hosts, meanwhile, racked up a third win and rose to fifth place on the log – five points off the pace of leaders Sekhukhune United.

The first shot in anger came from AmaZulu debutant Thabiso Kutumela in the seventh minute, as the forward shrugged off a challenge before unleashing a shot from outside the penalty area that flashed over the crossbar.

The match was a scrappy, stop-start affair through most of the first half, though AmaZulu created a great chance to go ahead in the 37th minute when Hendrick Ekstein was put through on goal, but a combination of goalkeeper Sage Stephens and recovering defender Omega Mdaka did just enough to keep the score at 0-0.

TWO QUICK GOALS

Yet that chance sparked the home side’s attack to life, and they scored two goals in the dying minutes of the first half to head into the interval at 2-0 up. 

First, Kutumela provided a cross from the right which fell perfectly for Ekstein to tuck home at close range in the 45th minute.

And deep in injury time Ekstein ran onto a lofted pass down the left flank, drove into the box, cut inside and fired a low drive into the bottom corner to double Usuthu’s advantage.

Two goals in three minutes puts AmaZulu in control against Stellies ⚽⚽

📺 Stream #BetwayPrem on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQWD1K pic.twitter.com/5UAbMJLTAz

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) September 17, 2025

Stellies made a double change at the start of the second half, throwing on Turan Manafov and Langelihle Phili.

The latter player pulled a goal back in the 52nd minute, picking up a rebound in the penalty area before firing home a low shot which had the beating of AmaZulu goalkeeper Richard Ofori.

The visitors gradually took control of the game and should have levelled the scores in the 76th minute when another substitute, Ashley Cupido, was put through on goal, but with only the ‘keeper to beat he made a mess of his finish, firing high and wide.

Stellenbosch asserted more attacking pressure in the dying stages of the match, but the hosts were able to hold on and secure all three points.

Stellenbosch will return to Premiership action this coming weekend with a home match against Richards Bay on Saturday, while AmaZulu will have to wait until 24 September for their next league match, away to TS Galaxy.

AmaZulu FC (2) 2 (Ekstein 45’, 45+3’)

Stellenbosch FC (0) 1 (Phili 52’)

AmaZulu: Ofori, Allan, Fielies, Mthethwa, Radebe, Mbanjwa, Hlangabeza, Ngcobo (Dube 86’), Ekstein (Motshwari 70’), Kutumela (Maqokolo 60’), Ngwenya (Matlhoko 86’)

Stellenbosch: Stephens, Godswill (Phili 46’), Moloisane, Stanic, Mdaka (Manafov 46’), Mthiyane (Mokobodi 58’), Khiba, Titus, De Jong (Butsaka 58’), Barns, Mojela (Cupido 73’)