AmaZulu PSL top-eight hopes dented after Polokwane City draw

AmaZulu and Polokwane City played out to a 1-1 Premiership draw at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi on Friday night. 

Both teams have left themselves open to be overtaken on the Premiership standings as their top-eight ambitions took a blow by dropping two points.

Usuthu remained in sixth spot with 34 points, while Rise and Shine could not move further than seventh, and now have 33 points after 26 games.  

Coming off a morale -boosting derby win last weekend, Usuthu strolled out at Umlazi having made four changes to the team that did the job against Golden Arrows.

The two big misses were absent Taariq Fielies at the back, as well as influential attacking midfielder Rowan Human, who were replaced by Ramahlwe Mphahlele and young Bayanda Thabede, who made his second top-flight appearance. 

However, it was another youngster who grabbed the spotlight early on as Teboho Mashigo scored his first Premiership goal with a scorcher in the eighth minute. 

The 22-year-old winger picked up the ball in a wide position, before drifting in and hammering in a shot that bamboozled the visiting goalkeeper by hitting the crossbar and going in. 

As expected, City replied by upping the intensity, and carved AmaZulu open a few times as well, but lacked the clinical edge in the opening stanza. 

Usuthu keeper Richards Ofori had to be at his best as he made four good saves to keep out the opposition.

However, the Ghanaian-born keeper could not do much to prevent Lebohang Nkaki drawing City level in the 56th minute from the penalty spot.

Thembela Sikhakhane was adjudged to have brought down winger Nyakala Raphadu. 

In the end, the teams could not be separated and settled for a share of the spoils. 

It will be another two weeks before these City take to the field against when they play Cape Town City at home. 

For Usuthu, their last game of the season will see them welcome Orlando Pirates to Durban on May 24.