Bwalya fires AmaZulu past Stellenbosch

AmaZulu FC snapped their eight-match winless run in the DStv Premiership when they edged out Stellenbosch FC 1-0 at the King Zwelithini Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The win elevated Usuthu to the seventh spot on the league standings and they will now face Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 final on Saturday. On the other hand, Stellies are placed 10th on the log and they are set to take on Chippa United on December 31.

Stellies got off to a bright start and they had an opportunity to break the deadlock through their top scorer Sinethemba Mngomezulu whose attempt was saved by goalkeeper Veli Mothwa in the 22nd minute.

The deadlock was broken five minutes later when Msindisi Ndlovu set up Larry Bwalya who scored with a wonderful shot to hand AmaZulu a 1 -0 lead - beating keeper Sage Stephens hands down.

Stellenbosch came close to leveling matters when Mngomezulu connected well with a corner-kick, Mothwa was well positioned to make a save in the 40th minute and the score 1-0 to AmaZulu at halftime.

Antonio van Wyk and Judas Moseamedi were introduced by Stellies after the restart as the visitors looked to level matters. However, Usuthu's defence which was led by Ramahlwe Mphahlele was looking solid and impenetrable.

Usuthu were not sitting back in the latter stages of the game and Thembela Sikhakhane was superbly denied by Stephens in the 70th minute after being set up by Bwalya. Ultimately, the game ended in a 1-0 win in favour of AmaZulu.

AmaZulu (1) 1 (Bwalya 31')

Stellenbosch (0) 0

AmaZulu: Mothwa, Sikhakhane, Mphahlele, Mobara, Hanamub, Makhaula (Malepe 79'), Bwalya (Zulu 79'), Brooks (Zuma 34'), Kunene, Ndlovu (Ndlovu 59'), Kwem (Buchanan 59').

Stellenbosch: Stephens, Van Rooyen, Makhanya, Sibiya (Hahn 88'), Jabaar, Adams, Mthethwa, Nduli (Mgaga 63'), Titus (Van Wyk 46'), Mngomezulu (Moseamedi 63'), Mendieta