Five-star Stellenbosch FC too hot to handle for AmaZulu

UMLAZI: AmaZulu were on the wrong end of a 5-0 rout at the hands of Stellenbosch FC in a Premiership clash at the King Zwelithini Stadium on Thursday night.

Usuthu suffered their heaviest defeat in just over six years, having last suffered the same score-line at the hands of Mamelodi Sundowns in 2019.

Stellies upped their chances of returning to the CAF Confederation Cup next season as they moved six points behind third-placed Polokwane City, having played two less games.

Following a cagey first half an hour, it was Stellenbosch who broke the deadlock through attacker Khomotjo Lekoloane in the 35th minute, who scored his second goal of the season.

The lanky forward benefited from sloppy defending in a packed AmaZulu box as his scrappy shot bamboozled Veli Mothwa in the Usuthu goal and handed his side the advantage.

Khomotjo Lekoloane has been key for Stellies away from home 🤌⚽

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— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) January 23, 2025

That trend would continue in the second stanza as the Devin Titus Show started after he doubled his side’s advantage with a vintage run, cut and smash into the top corner to give his side a 2-0 cushion in the 57th minute.

Three minutes later and midfielder Chumani Butshaka got in on the act as he added a third with a vicious deflected shot that left Mothwa rigid and nestled in the bottom corner.

AmaZulu had no answers for Stellies as Titus added a fourth goal in the 66th minute to end the match as a contest.

34' Lekoloane
60' Butsaka
57' Titus
66' Titus

So nice he had to hit it twice 😏🌟🌟

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— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) January 23, 2025

Ibraheem Jabaar finished things off for the Cape visitors with an 80th-minute strike.

Looking for a continuation, the AmaZulu technical team threw on the same XI that finished the game when they won against Magesi last time out.

The club’s top scorer, Etiosa Ighodaro, led the line in attack and was supported by Tshepang Moremi, while Bongani Zungu and Ben Motswari anchored the midfield.

As expected, the visitors made several changes to the side that suffered defeat in Morocco in the CAF Confederation Cup as all the big hitters made their way into the line-up.

The first half began pretty slowly as both teams felt each other out, but came alive after the first goal had gone in and set Stellenbosch on their way to a huge victory. | Independent Media Sport