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By Tshepo Ntsoelengoe

Football Journalist


Benni hails AmaZulu defence for restricting Sundowns’ Shalulile

Usuthu became the first side to beat the Brazilians this season.


Benni McCarthy lauded his AmaZulu FC team for coming to the party against Mamelodi Sundowns, especially his defenders for stopping the DStv Premiership’s top scorer Peter Shalulile in their clash on Monday.

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Usuthu became the first side to beat the Brazilians this season, as they edged them 1-0 at Kings Park Stadium, courtesy of an Augustine Mulenga strike late in the game.

McCarthy was impressed with the way AmaZulu applied themselves against the star-studded Sundowns outfit, with the league’s top scorer with 13 goals Shalulile finding it very hard to break the Usuthu back four.

“It was super important you know, for everyone who has contributed to this win because like you said it not an individual sport, we always count on every player, once you get the opportunity to play, you’re expected to give everything for the team,” McCarthy told the media.

“At all costs, it must make the team tick, it must help the team push for the win so, today everyone was present and we worked exceptionally well, we had the majority of the ball, we had to work extra hard to make Sundowns uncomfortable in their skin. They couldn’t penetrate us where they wanted to, Peter Shalulile was restricted and my defenders were on song, everyone was present.”

AmaZulu registered their second successive victory having beaten Marumo Gallants with the same scoreline prior to their meeting with the club from Pretoria.

Usuthu have found themselves in a streak this season, with the club recording the highest number of draws this campaign, 12, so far in their last 19 games, while winning five games and losing two. But they find themselves in third place on the league standings.

The KwaZulu-Natal-based outfit have another tough task coming up for them, with a mouthwatering clash against Orlando Pirates at the Orlando Stadium on Thursday. 

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