New boys Patosi and Modise score as CT City stay unbeaten

AYANDA PATOSI made it abundantly clear that he had returned to South Africa to revive a career that had stalled in Belgium. Last night, in Cape Town City’s 3-1 win over Platinum Stars at the Cape Town Stadium, the kid from Khayelitsha gave notice of his ambition with a lively, influential performance. And he crowned it with a superb goal as well.

The victory ensures that City, and new coach Benni McCarthy, make it three wins on the trot at this early stage of the PSL season.

McCarthy selected a team with one eye on Sunday’s MTN8 semi-final against Wits – and he tweaked the starting team quite considerably, making six changes to the team that defeated Wits in Johannesburg in the league last week.

The former Bafana Bafana striker gave opportunities to defenders Taariq Fielies, Vincent Kobola and Ebrahim Seedat, winger Lyle Lakay, and attackers Patosi and Letsie Koapeng.

The rain pelted down for the opening 20 minutes of the first half, making conditions really difficult. Both teams struggled to get going, with possession regularly turned over. City, though, had the better chances during this period, with Patosi whipping in a free-kick that skimmed the crossbar and, soon after, heading an attempt wide.

With the rain easing, it was again Patosi who made the run and pass that freed Lebogang Manyama in the penalty area, where the City captain was brought down by Platinum goalkeeper Mbongeni Mzimela. Koapeng stepped up to easily convert the spot-kick and give City the lead.

The setback, though, served only to galvanise the team from Rustenburg and they proceeded to dominate possession and territory for the rest of the half, with the Capetonians looking to steal something on the counter.

McCarthy then erred on the side of caution with Manyama at the start of the second half. The skipper had taken a slight knock in the first half and, with the important semi-final tie against Wits on the horizon, the coach took the decision to give Manyama a break. He was replaced by Sibusiso Masina.

Platinum tried to make things happen in the second period, but a moment of individual brilliance from Patosi then put paid to their resistance. The former Lokeren man twisted and turned his way beyond a few defenders to create the space to drive a shot into the top corner. Soon after, veteran Teko Modise came on to make his debut for City and he made an immediate impact. Lakay scampered through, pulled the ball back and Modise tapped into an empty net.

Platinum got a consolation goal just before the whistle via Robert N’Gambi.