Cupido takes City into semi

Cape Town City’s young defender Keanu Cupido’s (above) first-half header was enough to seal a spot for Benni McCarthy’s side in the MTN8 semifinals as Maritzburg United were beaten 1-0 in their own backyard at Harry Gwala Stadium yesterday afternoon.

The Amajita defender scored a minute from the break after the United defence failed to cut out a cross.

City pinned Maritzburg back at the start, giving playmaker Siphesihle Ndlovu no space for his telling runs. City’s Thabo Nodada bossed the midfield and was named Man-of-the-Match.

The home side came back a better side in the second half and could have clawed their way back but a combination of poor finishing and City’s determined defending snuffed out their attacks.

City came close to extending their lead but found the Maritzburg defence more determined. McCarthy’s side switched to a defensive style in the second half and tried to catch Maritzburg on the break a few times.

Fadlu Davids will be worried as his men are a shadow of the side they were last season when they were almost unbeatable at home.

Maritzburg are winless in three matches, losing to both Golden Arrows and Free State Stars in their first two Absa Premiership matches.

The semifinal first leg will be on the weekend of August 25 and the return leg takes place the following weekend.