Veteran forward Augustine Mulenga stepped off the bench to fire AmaZulu to a 1-0 home win over Mamelodi Sundowns on Monday night, ending the league leaders' impressive 17-match unbeaten run.
The match looked to be heading for a goalless draw before Mulenga popped up in the 75th minute to net the match-winner as a shell-shocked Sundowns failed to muster a response.
The first half was a closely contested affair and while Sundowns did enjoy the lion’s share of possession, they only managed to create a couple of noteworthy chances.
The first chance of note arrived after just two minutes of play as Sphelele Mkhulise latched onto a neat pass from Pavol Safranko before firing over the bar from inside the area.
AmaZulu eventually responded in the 19th minute, Thabo Qalinge forcing a fingertip save from Sundowns keeper Denis Onyango.
The hosts threatened again from the resulting corner as Bongi Ntuli headed wide of the left post after rising in the centre of the box to meet Luvuyo Memela’s corner kick.
And, after a brief lull in play, Sundowns lodged their first attempt on target as Themba Zwane saw his drilled shot saved in the bottom-right corner by AmaZulu gloveman Neil Boshoff.
AmaZulu striker Ntuli had a great opportunity to make amends for his earlier miss just moments later but somehow failed to hit the target from the right side of the six-yard box after being teed up by Qalinge.
That would prove to be the last noteworthy chance of the half as the two sides went into the break on level pegging.
It was more of the same after the interval, with clear-cut chances at a premium.
After a slow start, AmaZulu kicked things off in the 50th minute as Tapelo Nyongo sent a header over the bar from Memela’s inswinging corner.
Sundowns responded in the 62nd minute but the chance came to nothing as Ricardo Nascimento headed narrowly over the bar after meeting Lyle Lakay’s cross.
AmaZulu gave the visitors a taste of what was to come as, on 69 minutes, Thembela Sikhakhane forced Onyango into making a save after letting fly from the right side of the box.
The hosts would eventually break the deadlock in the 75th minute, substitute Augustine Mulenga latching onto a Memela through ball before placing his shot beyond the reach of Onyango and into the bottom corner.
AmaZulu go 1-0 up 👀
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) December 20, 2021
Augustine Mulenga scores after being subbed on just seconds earlier. Are Sundowns about to lose their first match of the season?
📺 Stream #DStvPrem live: https://t.co/0BMWdeEYT3 pic.twitter.com/7ncQFUNymc
Sundowns hit back with two chances in quick succession, Lakay seeing his long-range attempt saved in the top corner before Safranko headed narrowly wide of the top-left corner.
AmaZulu remained a threat on the counter, though, and very nearly hit Downs with another sucker punch in the 81st minute as Memela fired over following a well-worked corner.
However, despite their best efforts, the league leaders were unable to claw their way back on level terms in the remaining minutes as AmaZulu held on for a famous victory at Kings Park Stadium.
