Keagan Dolly's late goal ensured Kaizer Chiefs held AmaZulu FC to a 1-1 draw in a PSL encounter at Jonsson Kings Park Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Luvuyo Memela handed Usuthu the lead, but Dolly's goal from the penalty spot cancelled out the former Orlando Pirates winger's opening goal after Tapelo Xoki was adjudged to have controversially handled the ball in the box.
Bonginkosi Ntuli led the attack for AmaZulu as he looked to score in four successive games with coach Benni McCarthy's side brimming with confidence after securing their first PSL win of the season last weekend as they defeated Baroka FC 1-0.
While Bernard Parker was recalled to the starting line-up by coach Stuart Baxter - replacing Lebogang Manyama upfront with Chiefs having scored just once in their last three matches which the Soweto giants also failed to win.
AmaZulu saw plenty of the ball in the opening exchanges, but there were no clear chances with Chiefs having adopted a defensive approach as centre-back Njabulo Ngcobo was operating as a defensive midfielder.
However, Amakhosi looked dangerous on transition and they should have broken the deadlock when Khama Billiat sent Dolly through on goal, but the left-footed attacker was fantastically denied by goalkeeper Veli Mothwa.
The wasted opportunity opened up the game as Usuthu surged forward and Sandile Khumalo was presented with an opportunity to hand the hosts the lead, but the unmarked defender's snapshot was well-saved by keeper Daniel Akpeyi.
The momentum was with Chiefs with the half-time break approaching and they were frustrated by Mothwa, who pulled off two magnificent saves to deny Parker and Billiat - ensuring that the first-half ended with the score level at 0-0.
The introduction of Thabo Qalinge prior to the start of the second half saw the hosts use a lot of wing play and they broke the deadlock when Keagan Buchanan set up Memela, who beat Akpeyi with a low shot to make it 1-0 to AmaZulu in the 48th minute.
The goal rattled the Amakhosi defence and Memela was sent through on goal by Buchanan again, but this time he was superbly denied by Akpeyi and then the Nigeria international made a fine save - blocking Qalinge's effort which was heading for the top left corner.
McCarthy made a tactical change pulling out influential playmaker Buchanan and he introduced centre back Samkelo Mgwazela as the hosts looked to defend their slender lead, but this backfired as Chiefs dominated the game afterwards with Mothwa forced to deny Dolly and Phathutshedzo Nange.
Chiefs were awarded a penalty in stoppage time after Tapelo Xoki was controversially adjudged to have handled substitute Lebogang Manyama's cross and Dolly made no mistake from the spot-kick as he beat Mothwa to ensure that the game ended in a 1-1 draw.
The result left Chiefs in 11th place on the league standings and they will face Chippa United on October 16, while seventh-placed AmaZulu are scheduled to face DRC's TP Mazembe in the Caf Champions League on October 15.
