Defending MTN8 champions Cape Town City have been knocked out at the quarter-finals stage after a 2-0 defeat by Polokwane City at Newlands on Saturday afternoon.

The Cape side began their defence of the title they won last season with the first-ever game at Newlands in Cape Town and were looking to build up a winning momentum after picking up a draw and a win in their opening two Absa Premiership games.

Polokwane City are one of two teams to have already played three league games this season and after picking up two wins, they would have been eyeing a semi-final berth prior to kick-off.

The hosts started on the front foot and showed lots of early purpose. Craig Martin created the first real opening with a well-delivered free kick, but the away side managed to deal with the danger.

Benni McCarthy’s men may have dominated the opening 2o minutes but it were Rise and Shine who opened the scoring with 25 minutes gone, with Ghanaian striker Mohammed Anas finishing coolly to give his side the lead.

Five minutes later and City thought they had a penalty when Gift Links was hauled down in the box, but the linesman had his flag raised as the City forward was offsides in the buildup.

The defending MTN8 champs were 1-0 down at the break despite dominating large periods of the first stanza.

City struggled to regain their first-half dominance in the opening parts, and in the 60th minute Rise and Shine had the ideal chance to double their lead when Lesiba Nku was brought down in the box and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.

Sibusiso Mbonani was handed the spot kick but he saw his effort well saved by a diving Peter Leewenberg in the City goal.

City were keeping lots of the ball but were struggling to create any chance of note.

The side from Polokwane then wrapped up the time with six minutes to play as Charlton Mashumba curled into the corner to double his side’s lead.

McCarthy’s men have exited the competition at the quarter while Rise and Shine march into the last four.