Pietermaritzburg - AmaZulu came out trumps in their Telkom Knockout clash against Maritzburg United at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, a 1-0 win enough to see them into the last eight.

Maritzburg were by no means outplayed, but missing the services of Fadlu Davids up front, their attack lacked the edge to penertrate a stubborn AmaZulu defence.

The Pietermaritzburg team started with a real sense of purpose, putting Usuthu under severe pressure early on.

In the fourth minute Maritzburg were almost in front, but Brice Aka’s header bounced off the underside of the cross-bar.

Two minutes later Felix Obada fired in a snap shot from 14-yards out, but the ball flew straight at AmaZulu keeper Mbongeni Mzimela.

It had been all United in the opening 15 minutes, but with their first meaningful attack, AmaZulu took the lead when Thabo Mabaso’s superb ball from the left was glanced into the net via the head of Dumisani Ngwenya, whose accuracy left Shu-aib Walters with no chance of making a save.

Not surprisingly, the goal changed the complexion of the game as AmaZulu began to play with more confidence and purpose.

Maritzburg struggled to find their earlier rhythm and had to wait until the 40th minute before getting the chance to equalise, but after a good run down the left from Elias Ngwepe, Kurt Lentjies ballooned a shot over the bar with only the keeper to beat from a position right next to the penalty spot.

Ayanda Dlamini had a fairly quiet first half, but minutes after the restart he was ever so close to extending AmaZulu’s lead as he cut in from the left and curled a shot across goal, the ball just going the wrong side of the far post.

Maritzburg then attempted to go in search of an equaliser, but despite having more of the ball, they could not create any chances as the game deteriorated into a somewhat cagey affair.

With 20 minutes to go Litha Ngxabi came close to giving Usuthu the breathing space they needed, but his 30-yard grass-cutter screamed just wide of the left hand upright.

In the 80th minute Dlamini also had the chance to wrap the game up after an excellent Mabaso through ball, but his shot was too close to Walters, who made a fairly comfortable save.

There was some late pressure applied by Maritzburg, but backs-to-the-wall defending from AmaZulu saw them holding out for the win.

AmaZulu (1) 1 (Ngwenya 15)
Maritzburg United (0) 0

Teams

AmaZulu (4-4-2): Mzimela, Gumede, Chintu, Ariweriyai, Bishop; Mabaso, Sangweni, Ngxabi (Kasongo 89’), Hadebe (Mokoro 74’); Ngwenya (Ritson 89’), Dlamini

Maritzburg (4-5-1): Walters; Hendricks, Booysen, Diof, Ngwepe (Badiane 66’); Obada (Chivuta 36’), Nyatama, Madonda, Lentjies, Bester; Aka.