Sede Dion bagged a hat-trick as AmaZulu progressed to the Carling Knockout semi-finals with a 3-0 win over Golden Arrows on Saturday evening.
Dion, Hendrick Ekstein, Andile Mbanjwa and Abbubaker Mobara were recalled to the Usuthu line-up, whilst Arrows featured Olufemi Kayode in goal in the absence of Ismail Watenga.
Striker Dion showed why he was restored to side on 11 minutes when he combined with Mbanjwa’s cross to find the back of the net with a first-time finish.
Usuthu were keen to add another a little later where Ekstein got space from a layoff by Mobara and draw Kayode to a save with a cleverly worked shot.
Ekstein turned up again before the half-hour mark and released Dion in behind to go clear and get the better of Kayode with a chipped finish.
Dion continued to steal the show as he completed his hat-trick on the stroke of halftime when he headed in a corner-kick from Riaan Hanamub after Arrows went to sleep at the back.
AmaZulu didn’t take the foot of the accelerator after the break and threatened a fourth through the on-song Dion from another corner, but the effort went wide this time around.
The visitors came into their own moments later and could’ve pulled one back from a goalkeeping howler by Veli Mothwa, but Velemseni Ndwandwe wasn’t able to pounce and saw the danger averted.
Abafana Besthende continued to pile on the pressure inside the final quarter with a combination of Lungelo Nguse and Angelo Van Rooi around the box, but the move lacked the accuracy.
Two changes from Usuthu had Ekstein withdrawn for George Maluleka and Rowan Human introduced in the place of Celimpilo Ngema.
It was an opening closing minutes with both teams at each other, but the day belonged to Usuthu who bagged a comprehensive victory to secure a semi-final ticket.
Confirmed line-ups:
Golden Arrows: Kayode, Theron, Cross, Mantshiyane, Shitolo, Dube, Van Rooi, Tlolane, Ndwandwe, Sibiya, Mutizwa
Subs: Gumede, Nxadi, Moon, Mhlongo, Motloung, Ncube, Zwane, Nguse, Mthanti
AmaZulu: Mothwa, Sikhakhane, Hanamub, Jooste, Mobara, Gumede, Motshwari, Ekstein, Dion, Ngema, Mbanjwa
Subs: Mbanjwa, Malepe, Hlagabeza, Maluleka, Human, Moremi, Ndlovu, Letsoalo, Kwem
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