Edmilson Dove capitalised on a Virgil Vries error to score in the 79th minute and hand Cape Town City a 1-0 win over Kaizer Chiefs in their Absa Premiership clash at the FNB Stadium on Wednesday night.
Both City and Chiefs progressed to the next round of the Nedbank Cup over the weekend, with Amakhosi edging out ABC Motsepe league side Tornado FC, while the Citizens cruised to a 2-0 win over SuperSport United.
In the league, however, City have hit some form since the turn of the year winning two and drawing one in January.
Chiefs likewise have done well in the league, picking up two wins in a row after losing 2-1 to Mamelodi Sundowns in the first game of the year.
The Glamour Boys although have battled a congested fixture schedule this month due to the Caf Confederations Cup, which they have since exited.
City would have been hoping this could aid them in picking up their first win in three games against the Soweto Giants.
The Citizens were handed an early blow after a tight start as Siphelele Mthembu was forced off with an ankle injury in the eight minute after a tackle from Teenage Hadebe. The former Free State Stars man was replaced by Kermit Erasmus.
Chiefs then begun to impose themselves on the game, but when they did manage to break down their opponents the tall frame of City goalkeeper Peter Leeuwenburgh was there to deny them. Khama Billiat in particular was thwarted on a number of occasions by the Dutch stopper.
City eventually began to threaten towards the end of the first stanza and finally brought Virgil Vries into action. The Chiefs stopper, however, reacted quickly to deny both Thabo Nodada and Gift Links in quick succession.
Amakhosi were then forced into a change of their own just before the break as Kgotso Moleko was replaced by Siyabonga Ngezana.
0-0 at the break with the game firmly in the balance.
The second half took a while to get going until substitute Leonardo Castro came close to opening the scoring with 67 minutes gone, but the Colombians left-footed shot was expertly tipped over by Leeuwenburgh.
Chiefs then came close again as Siphelele Ntshangase hit a shot through a crowd, the effort, however, took a deflection and cannoned off the upright.
The home side were then made to pay for their wastefulness in front of goal in the 79th minute when Vries dropped a cross from a set-play allowing Dove to tap home into an empty net
The Citizens had Zukile Kewuti sent off late on, but it made little difference to the outcome as benni McCarthy’s men held on for the three.
Despite playing with ten men, Benni McCarthy’s troops were able to see off a late surge to claim an important three points.
Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
