Fairy tale stuff for City
New kids on the block send Chiefs packing in the MTN8
CAPE Town City are through to the semifinals of the MTN8 after crowning a splendid opening week of football with a famous 1-0 success over Kaizer Chiefs at the Cape Town Stadium last night.
Just three months into their existence as a PSL club, City have trumpeted their arrival in magnificent style. The Capetonians opened up with a league victory against Polokwane City on Tuesday, and last night, in front of a 31 000-strong crowd at the 2010 World Cup venue in Green Point, they stunned Amakhosi by knocking the Soweto side out of this cup competition.
In football, they say the game plan is everything. And that was certainly the case yesterday as City carried out head coach Eric Tinkler’s chosen system and strategy brilliantly. They sat deep, allowed Chiefs to have the ball in non-threatening areas, and then hit the opposition on the break. In addition, City worked tirelessly and played with discipline and composure, even when they were under pressure from Chiefs.
After a spectacular secondhalf cameo from City captain Lebogang Manyama during Tuesday’s win over Polokwane City, Tinkler had no hesitation in handing the player a start against Chiefs. In other changes for the Cape side, experienced goalkeeper Shu-Aib Walters came in for youngster Samora Motloung and Austria’s Roland Putsche was also given a start.
Chiefs were on the front foot from the opening whistle but conceded when they were unable to deal with the speed and efficiency of City’s counter-attacks. Amakhosi’s Lewis Macha had a header parried for a corner by Walters in the seventh minute and, from the resultant set piece, the Capetonians scored. Australia’s Matt Sim made a good clearing header from the corner and then City hit back on the break. Bhongolwethu Jayiya and Manyama combined swiftly, and it was the same Sim who dashed the length of the field to be in the Chiefs penalty box to meet Jayiya’s pass and net a fantastic goal after a wonderful piece of transitional football.
For the rest of the half the Soweto side were in the ascendancy as they tried desperately to get back on level terms.
City’s admirable discipline and dogged defensive organisation kept Amakhosi at bay, however – and, when the opportunity arrived, the Cape side’s counter-attacks always troubled the opposition.
On one such occasion, Manyama played in Lehlohonolo Majoro, but Chiefs’ Lorenzo Gordinho pulled off a great tackle to foil the City striker.
Although Chiefs continued to hog possession in the second half, the chances accrued for City on the break. Manyama had a shot blocked, and Chiefs keeper Itumeleng Khune had to be at his best to save a longrange effort from Jayiya.
Manyama, who has only just returned from injury, was substituted in the 58th minute as the pace and intensity of the game took its toll on his fitness.
It is early in the season and Chiefs clearly have lots to work on. They looked a little disjointed at times and were not very composed on attack, so the pressure will now be mounting on coach Steve Komphela.
In contrast, there were so many heroes on the field for City last night, from Walters all the way to Majoro up front. Central defender Tshepo Gumede – remember that name – should be a Bafana Bafana regular in time to come, and Jayiya, Manyama, Sim, Putsche and Mpho Matsi covered every blade of grass in midfield.
Latvian centre back Renars Roda, right back Vincent Kobolo and left back Aubrey Modiba all made industrious, valuable contributions that helped lead to City’s wonderful victory.
City’s ultimate vision is to be a team for all the people of the Cape – and in how they have gone about their business so far they have certainly shown their intent.
They have stated that they want to warm their way into the hearts of Capetonians – and surely there’s no better way to do that than by beating Chiefs, the country’s most popular football club.