The win was a crucial one for Amakhosi, moving four points above the drop zone and providing a lift before Saturday's match with Cape Town City
AmaZulu coach Benni McCarthy admitted he was surprised by the way Kaizer Chiefs coach Gavin Hunt set his side up in Wednesday’s match at Kings Park Stadium.
The Soweto side won the match 1-0 thanks to an 11th-minute strike by Samir Nurkovic to secure their first league win in eight games.
With Anthony Agay used more as a central defender alongside captain Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Daniel Cardoso added additional steel in the middle of the park which made it difficult for Usuthu to penetrate the Amakhosi defence.