Cape Town City coach Benni McCarthy admits he got his team selection wrong against Polokwane City in the MTN8 on Saturday, writes DYLAN APPOLIS.

The Citizens were eliminated from the top-eight competition after succumbing to a 2-0 defeat by Rise and Shine through goals from Mohammed Anas and Charlton Mashumba.

McCarthy made four changes to his side that drew with Stellenbosch a week earlier and rested the likes of captain Thamsanqa Mkhize‚ Surprise Ralani‚ Mpho Makola and Kermit Erasmus, while Thabo Nodada also failed to make an appearance for City.

‘I thought I fielded a strong team but we took the opponent too lightly. We knew they were going to come and sit and hit us on the counter-attack and they were just more aggressive than us,’ McCarthy said.

‘They wanted it far more than we wanted it‚ they showed they were first to every second ball … willing runners.

‘They were the better team at the end of the day and you have to accept it‚ when you go out to a team you couldn’t have beaten because they were superior.’

Cape Town City will be hoping to bounce back when they take on Mamelodi Sundowns in the Absa Premiership on Tuesday, with kick-off set for 7:30pm.