Stars stop CT City in their tracks

CAPE Town City were brought back to earth when they were handed a 4-0 whipping by Platinum Stars in an Absa Premiership clash at the Athlone Stadium last night.

The Citizens came into the game as both log leaders and new Telkom Knockout champions after claiming the trophy last weekend, but they were given a rude awakening by Dikwena, who snapped a four-match losing streak with a superb counter-attacking performance.

Stars made a flying start to the match and established a two-goal lead inside the opening 10 minutes.

The first arrived with less than five minutes on the clock when a free kick was delivered from the left flank and allowed defender Isaac Nhlapo to score with a diving header.

In the 10th minute, Dikwena doubled their advantage with a very similar goal by Tintswalo Tshabalala.

City pushed hard in the latter stages of the first half but Stars were able to go into the break with their 2-0 lead intact.

Stars’ first substitute, Bongi Ntuli, provided a killer blow when he made it 3-0 to the visitors in the 76th minute.

Six minutes later it was 4-0, with Ndumiso Mabena adding to his two assists in the first half by springing the offside trap and scoring with a low shot.

Meanwhile, Maritzburg United stunned Orlando Pirates 2-1 at the Harry Gwala Stadium.

The Team of Choice moved up to eighth on the league table, while the Bucs stay at fifth.

With both teams playing well, the score was 0-0 at the interval.

It took only three minutes for Bevan Fransman to fire Maritzburg into the lead with a powerful shot from inside the box.

Brian Onyango made no mistake in the 68th minute as he headed home to make it 2-0.

But Pirates never lost hope and they did pull one back through Ayanda Nkosi, who made it 2-1.