Champions Magesi edge AmaZulu in five-goal thriller

AmaZulu’s Carling Knockout Cup campaign came to a heartbreaking end after a late own goal handed defending champions Magesi FC a dramatic 3–2 win at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday evening.

It was a match that swung wildly in momentum — Magesi dominant in the first half, AmaZulu resurgent after the break, before a cruel deflection in stoppage time sealed their fate.

The visitors executed their counterattacking plan to perfection early on, striking twice in a seven-minute spell to take control. 

Kgomotso Mosadi opened the scoring in the 26th minute, finishing off a blistering counter with a calm low shot past Darren Johnson after a move that sliced through AmaZulu’s defence.

Barely minutes later, the visitors doubled their lead. Mosadi turned provider, slipping a clever pass to Abby Seseane, who fired low into the near post to make it 2–0 and send the small band of Magesi supporters into raptures.

AmaZulu, fatigued from their midweek trip to Kaizer Chiefs, had actually started brightly. 

Arthur Zwane made one change from that outing, handing Athini Maqokolo a start ahead of Thabiso Kutumela to add energy to the attack. 

The tweak looked promising early on — Pule Ekstein forced Elvis Chipezeze into a fine save in the fifth minute after a slick exchange around the box.

But once Magesi settled, they absorbed pressure with composure and broke forward with devastating speed. Usuthu’s rhythm faded as frustration crept in, and they went into halftime with work to do and a restless home crowd to appease.

Zwane reacted decisively after the break, introducing Kutumela alongside youngsters Bayanda Thabede and Minenhle Ngcobo, and those changes immediately injected purpose.

Usuthu halved the deficit in the 54th minute when Maqokolo poked home a Riaan Hanamub free-kick. 

The equaliser came 17 minutes later — Mlondi Mbanjwa tapping in from close range after a low cross from Ngcobo to spark hope of a famous turnaround. But Magesi, as they’ve done so often in this competition, found a way.

In the first minute of stoppage time, Mosadi’s free-kick took a wicked deflection off Kutumela and wrong-footed Johnson to make it 3–2 — crushing AmaZulu’s comeback bid and sending the defending champions through to the quarterfinals.

AmaZulu will feel aggrieved after a spirited second-half showing, but their slow start and lapses in concentration proved costly once again. 

For Magesi, it was another clinical display of resilience and tactical discipline — hallmarks of a side intent on defending their crown.

In the other match played in the tournament on Sunday, Richards Bay romped to a 4-1 victory over Chippa United. 

SCORERS

AmaZulu FC (0) 2 

Maqokolo 54, Mbanjwa 71

Magesi FC (2) 3 

Mosadi 26’, 90+1, Seseane 33