Mlondi Mbanjwa of AmaZulu during the Betway Premiership match against Durban City at Chatsworth Stadium.

Image: BackpagePix

Arthur Zwane, the AmaZulu FC head coach, would and should have been proud and somewhat relieved to see a some different names on his team's scoresheet, as Mlondi Mbanjwa and Athini Maqokolo scored quickfire first-half goals to win the Durban derby 2-1 against Durban City at Chatsworth Stadium on Tuesday night.

However, the coach was still left bemoaning missed "clear goalscoring opportunities" that should and could have handed them a better winning margin.

Zwane is under no pressure at AmaZulu at this stage, as his team's victory ensured they remain in the top-three league leading pack.

Victorious in six of their eight games so far this season, AmaZulu are on 19 points — two behind second-placed Orlando Pirates, and five ahead of fourth-placed Kaizer Chiefs.

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And the reason Zwane would have been relieved to see different names on the scoresheet is because, in their past seven games before the first FIFA break of the season, their goals had come from just one source — Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya.

The Zimbabwean marksman leads the Betway Premiership scoring charts with eight league goals, and, as Zwane lamented during his post-match presser, could and should have grabbed another.

Addressing the post-match interview, Zwane said: "Let me start by congratulating the players for the victory, and playing well. Just like in other games before, in the first half we should have scored three or four goals. Not half-chances — (I'm talking about) full chances. We did not take them.

"In the second half again we came back and got more chances, and I had just been telling them in the dressing room that we need to be ruthless. We got chances to score in the second half, not half-chances — (I'm talking about) full chances.

"Pule Ekstein had one, one-v-one, poor decision-making, and passing the ball wide. The other one hit the post, Mlondi got the rebound, and laid it on for Ngwenya to finish. But he allowed the goalkeeper to save.

"It was too close, those were all the chances. There were a lot of turnovers. (At times we had an opportunity) to pass to the correct player and (had to) connect (with the ball) to take advantage of the goalscoring opportunity.

"I think our rhythm did break a bit because of the recent break. But as I always say, what's important is to collect three points, and so we continue where we left off."