Gift Links scored in the 89th minute to hand Cape Town City a 1-0 win over SuperSport United in their Absa Premiership encounter at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday evening.

SuperSport came into the game after picking up just four points out of a possible 12 in the last four games and were hoping to kick off the new year in winning fashion.

Cape Town City were in a similar position after an inconsistent start to the league.

Just three points separated Kaitano Tembo’s team in sixth and Benni McCarth’s men in ninth. City, who won the first game in Cape Town, were looking to climb up the table and handed debuts to new signings Kermit Erasmus and Thato Mokeke.

The home side dominated possession in the opening stages, but were struggling to create any clear-cut chances, with Teboho Mokoena’s long range strike, which sailed just over, the only effort of note in the opening 30 minutes.

City, however, grew into the game with Gift Links taking a strike from range which also failed to hit the target.

0-0 at the break in a half which offered little in terms of goalmouth action.

It was much of the same at the start of the second half, with Erasmus’ wild shot the only effort on goal in the opening 15 minutes of the second stanza.

Mokoena then had a chance to fire his side into the lead, but the midfielder’s header flew just wide of the post.

Both teams then turned to the benches as Thami Mkhize and Ayanda Patosi came on for Edmilson Dove and Siphelele Mthembu for City, while Kamohelo Mahlatsi and Malinga replaced Evans Rusikie and Mokoena.

Both teams then went in search of a winner with SuperSport calling City keeper Sage Stephens into action on a couple of occasions.

It was, however, the visitors who snatched a late winner when Gift Links beat Ronwen Williams at his near post in the 89th minute.

SuperSport threw everything forward, but could not find a way past a resilient City defence. 1-0 the final score as McCarthy’s side start 2019 in solid fashion.

Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix