CT CITY SINK PIRATES
HOME AND DRY: PATOSI LIGHTS UP CAPE TOWN WITH 54TH MINUTE WINNER
Just not meant to be for the Buccaneers who will now shift their focus to the league and log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.
Ayanda Patosi’s relationship with Benni McCarthy this season hasn’t exactly been sunshine and roses, but yesterday the talented midfielder gave his coach at Cape Town City plenty of reasons to smile, as his winner put City into the Nedbank Cup quarterfinals at the expense of Orlando Pirates.
Patosi had a fine game, sealed by a cool finish in the 54th minute from Surprise Ralani’s cross. Despite Pirates’ best efforts, towards the end, that proved the only goal of the game, and Milutin Sredojevic’s Pirates are left to focus on challenging Mamelodi Sundowns for the Absa Premiership title.
Some much-needed rain fell on Cape Town yesterday, and maybe it was the cooler weather and extra zip off the pitch that contributed to a frenetic cup tie.
Pirates’ Zambian striker Justin Shonga was in the thick of it early on, with a 6th minute shot saved by Sage Stephens in the City goal. The Buccaneers were pressing high up the pitch and when Shogna won the ball in a dangerous area in the ninth minute, he was desperately unlucky to see his effort come back off the inside of the post.
City soon found a good passing rhythm, however, and Patosi fired in a sizzling shot that Siyabonga Mpontshane did well to push away.
On the half hour mark, Lyle Lakay cut in from the right, and fired a cross shot just over the bar, while Patosi had claims for a penalty waved away by referee Daniel Bennett.
And it was City who went in front just nine minutes into the second half. Surprise Ralani, a menace down the left all game, cut the ball back, and Patosi gleefully slammed it home.
Pirates might have equalised not long after, but Teko Modise somehow scrambled Innocent Maela’s header off the line. Thembinkosi Lorch headed over and Shonga had another effort saved by Stephens, but it was not to be for the Buccaneers.
The draw for the last eight will take place today, with City joining Free State Stars, Kaizer Chiefs, Ubuntu Cape Town, Maritzburg United, Baroka FC, Sundowns and Bloem Celtic in the hat.