Usuthu alive and kicking

Pretoria - Bonginkosi Ntuli has scored a brace as AmaZulu fought from a goal down to keep alive their hopes of Premiership survival with a tense 2-1 win over University of Pretoria at the Tuks Stadium on Wednesday night.

Tebogo Monyai opened the scoring for AmaTuks just after the half-hour, but Usuthu's on-loan Mamelodi Sundowns striker Ntuli netted in the 47th and 65th minutes to claim all the points.

The result, coupled by Moroka Swallows losing 2-1 to Ajax Cape Town, means that Usuthu's destiny is in their own hands heading into the final day of the season on Saturday after they moved off the bottom of the table.

But it all looked a distant dream early on against Tuks, especially after they conceded a penalty after only nine minutes when Thabo Mnyamane was brought down in the box, but Geofrey Massa saw his effort excellently saved by goalkeeper Energy Murambadoro.

However, the hosts did go ahead when a corner after 31 minutes was headed in by Monyai.

At half time, the Durbanites looked destined for the National First Division, but they came out a different team after the break.

Ntuli equalised within three minutes of the restart when he slipped the ball under AmaTuks keeper Washington Arubi, before striking in the winner off the upright to send AmaZulu into ecstasy.

They are now level on 27 points with Swallows and could avoid relegation and the play-offs altogether, should they win their match against Maritzburg United and Chippa United lose to Kaizer Chiefs.