Cape Town - Polokwane City ended a five-match winless streak with a clinical 3-2 Premiership victory over AmaZulu at the King Zwelithini Stadium on Wednesday.
The hosts began brightly and had the first opening after five minutes when Butholezwe Ncube darted into box after a linking up well with Rhulani Manzini, but the final pass was poor.
In-form striker Manzini then powered a fine 20-yard free-kick on target, forcing George Chigova to parry away.
But moments later Ndivhuwo Ravhuhali went one better with his 11th-minute free-kick – a spectacular 20-yard strike that thundered into the right corner via the underside of the crossbar.
Manzini tested Chigova with another stinger of a free-kick just after the half-hour mark, with the Polokwane keeper this time throwing himself to the right to punch away.
After the break, Mbongeni Gumede's strong run into the box saw the ball fall for him before Chigova stole it away as he was about to connect.
Manzini then made it third time lucky with another rasping free-kick eight minutes after the break as Usuthu drew level, the striker netting his fourth goal in three games.
But their joy lasted roughly 100 seconds as a low ball forward into the box was spilt by Siyabonga Mbatha under pressure from Rendani Ndou, with Walter Musona on hand to fire City back ahead.
The goal seemed to take the sting out of the hosts' play as pressure began to mount through chances for Ravhuhali and Ndou, both after errors from defenders.
Ramagalela then finished smartly after he was put through by Bongile Booy, before Cele's deflected shot in the final minute set up a frantic finish, but Polokwane held on to move to eight points, the same as AmaZulu.