Usuthu share spoils with Ajax in Durban
It was a shaky start for both Craig Rosslee and Roger De Sa's charges with possession being gifted away on a regular basis early on, with the visitors appearing to settle the quicker of the two teams.
The first chance of the match arrived after just five minutes with Tashreeq Morris heading the ball goalward after latching onto a Clifford Mulenga chipped pass, only for Usuthu goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini to make an easy save.
Ajax defender Cecil Lolo then found himself in the right place on 10 minutes to block a Bonginkosi Macala shot after he had been fed by the lively Philani Shange from the right-hand side.
Keegan Dolly fired wide from 25 yards before a Marc van Heerden free-kick on 16 minutes led to a scramble in the Ajax box that was eventually cleared as Carlington Nyandoro looked to rise at the back post.
The hosts were forced into an early switch, on the half hour mark, with James Mofokeng brought on to replace Nkosinathi Mthiyane, who left the field with a suspected fracture to his left arm following a rough challenge from Nazeer Allie.
Striker Thabiso Nkoana shot just wide of the left hand post as Ajax continued to look for an opener while Bongani Ndulula saw his effort from range blocked en route to goal.
AmaZulu rose in confidence the longer the game wore on and should have won the match on 72 minutes, but Ruzaigh Gamildien missed the best chance of the match as he headed over from close range.
Granwald Scott and Allie had both misjudged the flight of the ball as it was crossed from the right but Gamildien could just not keep his effort down with Ajax goalkeeper Anssi Jaakkola beaten.
And with the match seemingly headed for a draw, Allie was shown a second yellow for a foul on Nyandoro to end their hopes of leaving Durban with anything more than a point.
Gamildien though so nearly claimed victory at the death, but again he could not make the most of his chance as Jaakkola got down well to smother the ball after the Usuthu midfielder had slid to connect with the ball on the edge of the box.
(File photo:Gallo Images)