Staff Reporter.
AmaZulu FC secured a 1-0 victory over Horoya AC in the Caf Champions League Group B match at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in South Africa on Friday night.
Therefore, Usuthu recorded their first-ever victory in the group stage and the win took them to second place on the Group B standings, while Guinean giants Horoya remained fourth on the table.
Horoya threatened first through Guinea international Morlaye Sylla, whose shot was well saved by goalkeeper Veli Mothwa as the visitors looked to stun the hosts by grabbing an early lead.
Usuthu then took control of the match with Augustine Mulenga eager to use his mesmerising dribbling skills to cut open the Horoya defence and either create chances for his teammates or shoot at goal.
The former Orlando Pirates attacker was involved as AmaZulu took a 1-0 lead in the 31st minute as he set up Luvuyo Memela, who scored with a flicked backheel with the visitors’ defence exposed.
Mulenga continued to torment the Horoya defence and he played a quality cross for an unmarked Abraham Majok, but somehow the tall striker missed the target from close range with a header and AmaZulu were deservedly leading 1-0 at halftime.
Usuthu were under siege after the restart with HAC dominating the game with Mothwa forced to produce a decent save to deny Boniface Haba from inside the hosts’ box.
The Bafana Bafana keeper was then beaten by Sylla’s fierce shot which hit the woodwork and Haba missed the target from the rebound after Sandile Khumalo had made a mistake at the back with a poor pass.
Benni McCarthy, the AmaZulu head coach, responded by introducing Matarr Ceesay and Thabo Qalinge as the hosts looked to regain control of the match and kill off the game with another goal.
However, the visitors pushed for the equalising goal in the closing stages and Mothwa blocked a powerful free-kick from Seyei Baffour – ensuring that the match ended in a 1-0 win in favour of AmaZulu.
Meanwhile Mohamed Zrida’s second-half goal earned Raja a 1-0 victory over Algerian side ES Setif in a Group B encounter which was played at the Stade du 5 Juillet 1962 in Algeria.
The win saw the Moroccan giants consolidate their lead at the top of the group standings having defeated South African side AmaZulu FC 1-0 at home in their first match last weekend.
Elsewhere Al Ahly were held to a 0-0 draw by Sudanese champions Al Hilal Omdurman in their maiden Group A game which took place at the Al-Hilal Stadium in Sudan.
Therefore, the defending champions began their group stage campaign with a draw and they were inactive on matchday one due to their 2021 Fifa Club World Cup commitment.
Al Hilal remain winless in Group A, having lost 1-0 to South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns away in their first game last week.