Cape Town Spurs gave their survival bid a boost with a 3-1 victory over AmaZulu in DStv Premiership action on Saturday evening.
On-loan Sifiso Ngobeni made his debut for Usuthu, with the returning Augustine Kwem on the bench, as Spurs debuted Katleho Maphathe and handed Boitumelo Radiopane his first start of the season.
Not a lot separated the two sides in the opening phases of the clash, as the Urban Warriors desperately looked for a win to restart their campaign positively.
It was the bottom-placed outfit that pulled the first punch over 14 minutes played after Chumani Butsaka picked up a well-weighted pass to go on and beat Olwethu Mzimela.
The lead didn’t last long as Usuthu levelled on the stroke of halftime when Abbubaker Mobara received a nicely placed ball from Hendrick Ekstein and rattled the net.
However, Radiopane should’ve restored the home side’s lead from the spot in the final exchanges to the break but he failed to get the better of Mzimela.
It was the Orlando Pirates graduate’s last participation as he made way for Ashley Cupido ahead of the second half with Michael Morton brought on as well for new man Maphathe.
The Urban Warriors regained the lead ten minutes in when Cupido reaffirmed his goal-scoring acumen as he dispatched Luvuyo Phewa firmly past Mzimela.
Usuthu pushed all out for a response and came close later on after Wayde Jooste delivered a pin-point ball towards Kwem, but the Nigerian misjudged the supply.
Cupido dashed any hopes of a comeback four minutes from time when he bagged a brace through a smartly taken finish as the defence went to sleep.
The Urban Warriors contained the remaining seconds to confirm only their second of the season, as Usuthu head back to the drawing board.
Confirmed line-ups:
Cape Town Spurs: Boshoff, Phewa, Haukongo, Velebayi, De Geode, Maphathe, Butsaka, Bern, Nkwali, Kamagi, Radiopane
Subs: Dlamini, Moroole, Ralani, Buchanan, Morton, Dortley, Cupido, Braithwaite, Maduna
AmaZulu: Mzimela, Jooste , Fielies, Mobara, Mphahlele, Motshwari, Ngema, Kwem, Mbanjwa, Ekstein.
Subs: Mbanjwa, Zulu, Gumede, Maluleka, Brooks, Moremi, Ndlovu, Mulenga, Letsoalo
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