A happy night for City
CAPE Town City scored a notable 2-1 victory at FNB Stadium as wasteful Kaizer Chiefs’ dreadful run of form in the Premiership continued last night.
After City had taken a 2-0 lead, Chiefs had a glut of scoring chances, but only Australia-born midfielder Kearyn Baccus, a second-half substitute, found the net in the 67th minute.
Chiefs took the initiative at the start and managed a few early sorties into the opposition goalmouth without setting up scoring chances.
City took some time to settle down. When they did, their attacks, mostly down the right flank, proved penetrative.
An 18th minute corner provided City with a chance for a breakthrough when Chiefs made a hash of clearing their lines. The ball spun free and City striker Tashreeq Morris, from five metre out, ballooned his effort over the crossbar.
Three minutes later, Morris atoned for the lapse when he slipped the ball past Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune after a fine goalmouth cross by defender Terrence Mashego, who had overlapped with great speed down the left flank.
On the stroke of half-time, Chiefs forced a corner, and subsequently a scoring chance emerged. However, Nkosingiphile Ngcobo’s piledriver from the edge of the penalty area flew wide of the target.
In the 52nd minute, City scored a fluke goal when striker Bradley Ralani tried his luck from the edge of the penalty area. His shot took a wicked deflection off a defender, and Khune was left stranded between the sticks.
Meanwhile, a peach of a goal by Nduduzo Sibiya helped Lamontville Golden Arrows to a 1-0 away win over SuperSport United at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville last night, writes Eshlin Vedan.
Latching on to a pass from utility player Knox Mutizwa, Sibiya slotted home beyond the reach of Matsatsantsa stand-in keeper George Chigova, who started the game in place of the injured Ronwen Williams.
It is quite evident that SuperSport coach Kaitano Tembo will have to look for a new striker at the end of the season.
Matsatsantsa once again had to make do without the injuryprone duo of Bradley Grobler and Thamsanqa Gabuza and this was clearly reflected by their lack of venom up front.
When the duo are available, SuperSport can give any side in the league a serious run for their money, but without them, they usually struggle to bury their chances.
With both forwards also now well over 30, SuperSport do need to plan for the future.
To their credit, SuperSport did start to attack well in the second half and were arguably the better side in the second period, although Arrows were tight in defence and secured a vital away victory.
Sifiso Mlungwana, who is a strong contender to start for David Notoane’s South African Under23 side in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics, would have done his chances of selection the world of good as he made a good save from an Iqraam Rayners shot in the 74th minute.
The result saw Arrows move back to second place in the standings above KwaZulu-Natal neighbours AmaZulu on goal difference.
Also yesterday, champions Mamelodi Sundowns remained unbeaten at the top despite a goalless draw with AmaZulu in Durban.