Cape Town City defeated Kaizer Chiefs 3-2 in their Absa Premiership encounter at the Cape Town Stadium on Tuesday evening, writes MARSHALL GOUTS.
Eric Tinkler made a total of five changes from his side that drew 1-1 against Bidvest Wits in their last Absa Premiership game, with Vincent Kobola, Edmilson, Thato Mokeke, Lehlohonolo Majoro and Bhongolwethu Jayiya all being given the nod.
Steve Komphela made four changes from his team that were knocked out of the Nedbank Cup. Daniel Cardoso, Tsepo Masilela and Edmore Chirambadare were handed starting berths ahead of Lorenzo Gordinho, Sibusiso Khumalo and George Lebese, while goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma made his Amakhosi debut with captain Itumeleng Khune still struggling with injury.
The visitors got off to a brighter start and had two shots in quick succession go wide of the mark early through efforts by Chirambadare and Joseph Molangoane.
City’s first chance of the game arrived in the seventh minute of the game in the form of a free-kick just outside the Chiefs box, but Roland Putsche’s resultant effort went wide of the mark.
Goalkeeper Shuaib Walters did well to punch away Siphiwe Tshabalala’s fierce strike in the ninth minute, after some good interplay between him and Willard Katsande.
Aubrey Ngoma opened the scoring in the 16th minute after mesmerizing the Chiefs defence, before calmly slotting past Bvuma.
Chiefs drew level four minutes later when Tshabalala’s world-class chipped effort evaded the attention of Walters to make it 1-1.
The game delivered end-to-end action with both sides aiming to take the lead. City captain Lebogang Manyama showed his class in the 35th minute to restore his side’s lead after a fine individual piece of skill.
The goal took the sting out of the Chiefs attack, and despite committing numbers forward, they failed to find a way past the City defence and headed into the half-time break with a one-goal deficit.
Komphela opted for a double substitution in the second half, and introduced Gustavo Paez and William Twala for Bernard Parker and Edmore Chirambadare respectively.
The substitutes almost combined to good effect as Paez picked out Twala with an enticing cross, however Vincent Kobola bundled the ball out for a corner before the winger could pull the trigger.
City wasted two great opportunities to further extend their lead in quick succession, but Manyama and Majoro failed to hit the target from within the area.
Chiefs became desperate and began launching long balls into the area, which almost worked, as Ramahlwe Mphahlele’s flicked header went narrowly wide in the 60th minute.
Majoro should have sealed the tie when he was played through on goal in the 65th minute, but the onrushing Bvuma did well to deny him, not once, but twice, to give his side a glimmer of hope.
City defender Robyn Johannes came to his side’s rescue when he cleared a ball off the line after Paez had the beating of City goalkeeper Walters.
Chiefs were rewarded for their attacking efforts when winger Molangoane found the equaliser in the 72nd minute, after some great work by Paez.
Barely a minute later, Majoro was gifted with another opportunity, but the striker somehow missed with the goal begging at his mercy.
The visitors did most of the attacking in the closing stages, but it was Cape Town City who would have the last laugh as substitute Judas Moseamedi netted in stoppage time to give his side a 3-2 victory.
Meanwhile, Bloemfontein Celtic were held to a 1-1 draw by relegation-threatened Highlands Park, with Musa Nyatama giving the home side the lead, before Mothobi Mvala forced a share of the spoils with a goal in stoppage time.
Chippa United’s top-eight hopes were dealt a blow as they were condemned to a 3-2 loss against Maritzburg United at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, with Mohau Mokate, Kurt Lentjies and Andrea Filecci netting for the visitors, while Phetolo Sekome managed to net a brace as consolation.
Photo: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
