Cape Town City put an end to Mamelodi Sundowns’ seven-game unbeaten streak in the league as they ran out 1-0 victors on Tuesday night at the Loftus Versveld Stadium, writes MARSHALL GOUTS.

The visitors started the brighter of the two teams and appeared content with shading the possession in the opening exchanges.

Benni McCarthy’s side did well in dealing with Sundowns’ superior attacking threat by not allowing them too much space and time on the ball in the final third, which nullified the threat of the likes of Percy Tau and Themba Zwane.

Masandawana striker Thokozani Sekotlong struck the first effort at goal in the 19th minute, but his left-footed effort went inches past the post.

The game started opening up more and City winger Lyle Lakay came close to scoring in the 23rd minute, but he failed to direct his effort goalward after getting the better of Siyanda Zwane.

The visitors took the lead in brilliant fashion four minutes later when a swift counter attacking move saw Aubrey Ngoma feed Nana Akosah-Bempah who slotted home from within the area.

Sundowns upped their tempo, particularly in the final third and came close through efforts from Hlompho Kekana and Tau, but goalkeeper Sage Stephens proved equal to the task for both efforts.

City should have doubled their lead moments before the half-time break when Ngoma provided Roland Putsche with a ball over the top for the simplest of finishes, but Denis Onyango came to Sundowns’ rescue as he kept out the midfielder’s effort.

McCarthy’s side were dealt a massive blow when Ngoma was forced off with a hamstring injury, with the midfielder subsequently being replaced by Teko Modise.

Sundowns dropped their patient approach in the second half and opted for a more direct strategy in the second half, which often suited the City defence.

Masandawana were let off in the 62nd minute after great interplay between Craig Martin and Modise saw the ball land to Thamsanqa Mkhize in the area, but the defender saw his curled effort sail narrowly over the crossbar.

Tau showed his class in the 73rd minute when he drove into the box and squared the ball for partner in-crime Zwane, but the midfielder’s effort struck the side-netting from a couple of yards out.

Both sides introduced their first substitutions of the game in the 75th minute as Yannick Zakri came on for Sekotlong, while Victor Obinna came on for goalscorer Bempah.

Sundowns threw numbers forward in the final exchanges but were unable to penetrate a resilient City defence who put an end to their unbeaten streak in the league.