AmaZulu eased past Magesi FC by 1-0 in their Betway Premiership clash at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Saturday.
Usuthu return to winning ways and they break their two-match winless streak, sending a perfect response following their 2-0 loss to Sekhukhune United on Wednesday.
The win sees the KwaZulu-Natal side temporarily occupy eighth position, level on 16 points with SuperSport United, who still have a game in hand and they are due to clash with Babina Noko on Sunday (5.45pm kick-off).
In a match that carried a lot of importance for both sides as a result of their inconsistent start to their campaign, chances were hard to come by, and it was the visitors who had control of proceedings in a subdued opening half without any clear-cut chances for either side.
Magesi have had it hard since their maiden surprise 2-1 Carling Knockout win against Sundowns and their winless run stretches to nine matches with four draws and five losses.
Currently rooted at the bottom of the log with seven points from their twelve matches, they have seemed the opposite of the side they were in the early part of the season.
They quickly need to shake off their Beer Cup hangover or their elations will quickly turn into misery in just one season.
Amazulu made five changes from their last match in the 2-0 loss against the Limpopo-based side.
Following his first appearance from the bench in that defeat, Bongani Zungu was handed his first start at his new home.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder has been eased back into action following a few months out of the game, and he couldn’t impact the game enough in a tightly contested first half.
The second half carried the same pattern until a moment of individual brilliance from Zungu, who was afforded space from well outside the 18-yard box, accepted the invitation, and he showed his quality with a long-range shot.
That shot caught Magesi goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze flat-footed on the half volley, and the 34-year-old’s despairing dive couldn’t prevent Zungu from opening his account in just his second appearance.
Magesi couldn’t make the comeback and they now find themselves in a fight for survival with twelve matches played.
Elsewhere, Marumo Gallants handed Muhsin Ertgral his first defeat with a 1-0 win at the Petrus Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
Gallants open a five-point gap to 14th-placed Richards Bay FC after 13 matches.
The Turkish mentor has injected a fresh new energy with the season reviving back-to-back wins against both the Soweto giants.
City recorded a 1-0 win against title contenders Orlando Pirates, the more impressive of the two wins, following the same scoreline against Kaizer Chiefs a few days earlier.
The clash against a possession-dominant Dan Malesela-led Marumo Gallants was their first test away from home and one that would see them turn around their season to temporarily move to fourth in the log had they continued their winning momentum but it wasn’t to be.
Gallants imposed themselves early in the match, and they had the creativity to find defensive-splitting passes, and they would eventually be rewarded in the 12th minute through a clinical Edgar Manaka penalty to secure their fourth win of the season.