AmaZulu FC defeated Lamontville Golden Arrows 2-1 in an Absa Premiership match at the King Zwelithini Stadium on Saturday night.

The victory took takes Usuthu to seventh spot on the league standings, while Abafana Bes'thende slip down to 12th spot on the table.

Abafana Bes'thende were presented with an opportunity to take an early lead just seven minutes into game when they were awarded a free-kick in a promising area.

Zimbabwe international Knox Mutizwa stepped up and forced Usuthu goalkeeper Siyabonga Mutizwa into a decent diving save from the set-piece.

Ovidy Karuru, who had scored the only goal of the match as Usuthu beat SuperSport United, was looking lively for the hosts.

The Zimbabwean winger beat his marker, before his cross was snatched by Arrows keeper Nkosingiphile Gumede in the 19th minute.

It was end-to-end stuff with both teams showing signs of urgeny while in possession of the ball in the highly-anticipated KwaZulu-Natal Derby.

As the halftime break approached Usuthu piled pressure on Abafana Bes'thende, who conceded several corner-kicks.

Towering shot-stopper Gumede, who is a former South Africa Under-23 international, dealt well with the corner-kicks.

The score was 0-0 at the interval between AmaZulu and Arrows following a lively first-half.

The deadlock was finally broken six minutes after the restart when Mutizwa beat Mbatha with a low effort to make it 1-0 to Arrows following a quick move.

It was end-to-end stuff as Siyethemba Mnguni made it 1-1 for AmaZulu when he scored from close range from Sibusiso Mabiliso's cross.

The hosts now in control of the game and Mnguni made it 2-1 to AmaZulu in the 63rd minute with Mabhuti Khenyeza grabbing an assist - much to the delight of the home crowd.

Ten minutes later, things went from bad to worse for the visitors when Danny Venter, who recently joined Arrows from Free State Stars, was given a red card for a dangerous tackle.

Arrows pushed for a late equalising goal - applying pressure on the AmaZulu defence and the hosts were also reduced to 10 men when Michael Morton was sent off with 10 minutes left.

However, AmaZulu defended very well in the remaining minutes of the game and ultimately, they emerged 2-1 winners in the KwaZulu-Natal Derby.

AmaZulu (0) 2 (Mnguni 59', 63')

Arrows (0) 1 (Mutizwa 51')

Teams:

AmaZulu: Mbatha S, Gumede M, Mabiliso, Nyongo, Ouro-Akoriko, Ncube, Morton, Mnguni (Darpoh 77'), Karuru (Dlamini S 88'), Nomvethe (Ncobeni 83'), Khenyeza.

Golden Arrows: Gumede, Buthelezi, Shongwe (Lamola 67'), Mahachi, Mzava, Nonyane, Venter, Ndwandwe (Magubane 63'), Mutizwa, Zuke, Mngwengwe.