AmaZulu boosted their hopes of finishing in the top eight after a late 2-1 victory over Chippa United in the DStv Premiership encounter on Saturday afternoon.
Usuthu recalled Celimpilo Ngema, who joined Victor Letsoalo, Tshepang Moremi and Augustine Mulenga upfront, as the only change after defeat against Orlando Pirates.
Chippa, meanwhile, were boosted by the return of Orlando Pirates loanee Goodman Mosele, who was joined by Brooklyn Poggenpoel, as a new partnership in midfield following their win over SuperSport United.
The Chilli Boys had a perfect start after they went ahead on eight minutes after Sinoxolo Kwayiba fired home a strike from a rebound.
Pablo Franco Martin's men had a good chance to level matters four minutes later after after Taariq Fielies guided a header in the box just wide.
The rhythm of the game was interrupted after the half-hour mark but Usuthu spirited and on the stroke of half-time Ben Motshwari came close to the leveller with a strike from the edge of the box that was smothered by shot-stopper Stanley Nwabali.
Martin reinforced his attack with a double change at half-time, as Hendrick Ekstein and Junior Dion both came on for Ethan Brooks and Letsoalo.
AmaZulu put Chippa under pressure in the early stages of the second stanza and on 65 minutes, Moremi eventually found the equaliser with a close-range finish after a headed pass by Mulenga from a corner.
AmaZulu gained momentum in the closing stages and Dion almost gave them the lead ten minutes before time with a header in the box that missed narrowly wide after a cross by Mondli Mbanjwa.
There was drama in the end after Usuthu were awarded a penalty in added time for a foul on Ngema in the box. Ekstein snatched the winner for Usuthu from the spot-kick.
Chippa finished the game with ten men after Roscoe Pietersen was red-carded for violent conduct.
Confirmed line-ups:
Chippa United: Nwabali, Kammies, Poggenpoel, Nhlapho, Makhele, Chabalala, Mosele, Kwayiba, Martin, Luthuli, Eva Nga
Subs: Johnson, Kambindu, Maarman, Mqokozo, Pietersen, Konqobe, Ntsabo, Francis
AmaZulu: Mothwa, Sikhakhane, Hanamub, Mphahlele, Fielies, Motshwari, Ngema, Brooks, Letsoalo, Mulenga, Moremi
Subs: Mbanjwa, Ngobeni, Jooste, Gumede, Mbanjwa, Ndlovu, Esktein, Dion, Kwem
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