Dumisani Zuma and Ramahlwe Mphahlele came back to haunt their former side as AmaZulu thrashed Kaizer Chiefs 4-0 at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday evening.
Chiefs handed a start to Happy Mashiane in place of the suspended Sifiso Hlanti, with Samkelo Zwane, Ashley Du Preez and debuttant Mduduzi Shabalala amongst the other changes.
Usuthu were lively in the opening stages and with 14 minutes gone, Dumisani Zuma found loads of space in the area and headed George Maluleka's corner-kick past the reach of Itumeleng Khune for the opening goal against his former side.
The Amakhosi could've hit back two minutes later when Ashley Du Preez drew a foul from Abbubaker Mobara and won a penalty, but Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana failed to beat Veli Mothwa from 12 yards.
AmaZulu extended their tally seven minutes before halftime after former Chiefs man Ramahlwe Mphahlele headed in another delivery from Maluleka after Itumeleng Khune failed to collect.
There was activity from the Usuthu bench, with Makhehlene Makhaula withdrawn due to an injury and Tercious Malepe introduced.
Chiefs battled to keep shape at the back and were three goals down when Sede Dion latched intercepted Edmilson Dove's poor back-pass and deflected the ball into an empty net.
No changes were presented from either side at the start of the second half, with the Amakhosi desperate to find a way back.
The Amakhosi experienced no joy in opening up the host a little in the resumption, as Usuthu looked to hold onto their advantage and consolidate matters.
Chiefs did enjoy a lot of possession in forward areas in the midway phase of the second half and managed to get a shot in from smart play by substitute Kgaogelo Sekgota.
Sekgota went close minutes before the end with a teasing strike from a corner-kick, but Mothwa came up trumps and produced a strong save.
AmaZulu added a fourth goal in stoppage time when second half substitute Bonginkosi Ntuli bundled in from more poor defending by the Amakhosi and aided the side to a comprehensive victory.
Confirmed line-ups:
AmaZulu: Mothwa, Sikhakhane, Hanamub, Mphahlele, Mobara, Makhaula, Maluleka, Ekstein, Qalinge, Dion, Zuma
Subs: Mzimela, Gumede, Mabiliso, Malepe, Bwalya, Ndlovu, Maduna, Ntuli, Majoro
Kaizer Chiefs: Khune, Frosler, Dove, Kwinika, Zwane, Maart, Ngcobo, Shabalala, Du Preez, Bimenyimana
Subs: Bvuma, Ngezana, Mathoho, Matlou, Sithebe, Sekgota, Solomons, Radebe, Duba
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