AmaZulu were denied back-to-back wins in the Betway Premiership following a 1-1 draw with Polokwane City on Friday evening.
Usuthu made two changes from the win over Golden Arrows as Ramahlwe Mphahlele and Bayanda Thabede were recalled, while City welcomed Samuel Nana and Nyakala Raphadu back into the side.
It was the perfect start for the host on seven minutes when Tebogo Mashigo cut in to the edge of the box and fired in off the underside of the bar.
Arthur Zwane’s men targeted more goals thereafter and went close getting their reward through Thabede and Tshepang Moremi, but neither proved decisive in front of goal.
Rise and Shine enjoyed equal penetrations as Raphadu and Bonginkosi Dlamini took aim from around the area, but were unable to beat goalkeeper Richard Ofori.
The visitors made a substitution before the start of the second half, with Simon Ramabu coming on for Nana, while Usuthu were unchanged.
Rise and Shine were inspired by the change and levelled matters nine minutes into the second half when Lebohang Nkaki netted from the penalty spot following a foul on Dlamini by Thembela Sikhakhane.
Zwane’s outfit pushed eagerly to regain the lead a little later as substitute Ethan Brooks latched on a lay-off from Etiosa Ighodaro to get goal-side, but he was unable to find target.
The opportunities continued falling for Usuthu, with Moremi notably going narrowly wide of the bottom-corner from the edge of the area following a layoff by Ekstein.
Rise and Shine weren’t overawed and enjoyed a strong finish late on, but they also failed to profit their chances as it finished 1-1 on the night.
Confirmed line-ups:
AmaZulu: Ofori, Sikhakhane, Hanamub, Mphahlele, Mthethwa, Motshwari, Zungu, Thabede, Ighodaro, Mashigo, Moremi
Subs: Mbanjwa, Dube, Ngobeni, Radebe, M.Mbanjwa, Ekstein, Brooks, Sithole, Mulenga
Polokwane City: Okoth, Manthosi, Ndlovu, Nikani, Nkaki, Kambala, Nana, Maphangule, Dlamini, Raphadu, Letshedi
Subs: Mathebula, Motsa, Gwangqa, Ngwenya, Batlhabane, Ramushu, Goovadia, Makhubela, Ramabu