Manyama salvages a point for Cape Town City
IT WAS that man Lebogang Manyama who again came to the rescue for Cape Town City as the in-form skipper netted a late equaliser to earn the Cape side a 1-1 draw with SuperSport United at the Cape Town Stadium last night.
It was probably only fitting that City pulled it out of the fire moments before the end because they didn’t deserve to lose after SuperSport earlier scored what looked to be the winner in the 82nd minute.
But this is a City side that never gives up – and the result keeps them at the top of the PSL standings with 25 points, with SuperSport on 22 and Wits and Polokwane City on 21.
Last night, it was initially a tight, cagey encounter between two equally-matched sides. Space was at a premium in the opening stages, with neither team prepared to give an inch. As the game progressed, though, City took control of proceedings.
The Cape side, especially, after Tuesday’s debacle when they were hammered 4-0 by Platinum Stars, were certainly up for this. They were aware, awake and alive to any early danger from SuperSport.
The Capetonians managed to fashion a few half-chances in the opening period, but failed to make them count.
SuperSport had clearly come with a plan to limit City’s potent attacking threat. They used Kingston Nkhatha as a lone striker and loaded the midfield. In this way, it proved difficult for the Cape side to pass their way through because the midfield area was just so congested.
But City were definitely in the mood and, despite the opposition’s intention to stop them from playing, they still managed to regularly carve open their packed defence. On one such occasion, in the 29th minute, Sibusiso Masina had a great opportunity to give City the lead, but stabbed his effort wide of goal.
There was a scare for both teams just before the half-time break when City’s Mpho Matsi and SuperSport’s New Zealand defender Michael Boxall clashed heads in an aerial duel. Both players were left bloodied – Matsi with a gash at the back of his head and Boxall a cut to the cheek.
Matsi was affected so badly that he was replaced at the start of the second half by Given Mashikinya.
Ten minutes into the second half, another gilt-edged opportunity presented itself for City, this time when Judas Moseamedi scythed through the SuperSport defence, and played in Manyama, but the Cape side’s captain hoofed the ball into the side netting.
SuperSport came out looking a lot more positive in the second period. They adopted a more offensive approach and, with Thabo Mnyamane, Reneilwe Letsholonyane and Aubrey Modiba at the forefront of all their moves, they managed to trouble City’s defence.
In the 66th minute, City went to the bench for some inspiration, with former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Luyolo Nomandela coming on to make his debut for the Capetonians.
But, as this cruel game of football would have it, despite City having the better of the exchanges, they got undone on the counter.
Right-back Thamsanqa Mkhize slipped and SuperSport were clean through.
After a move involving Modiba and Letsholonyane, it was left to Nkhatha to steer in an easy finish.
But just when it looked like City would lose two on the bounce, Manyama popped up to net a face-saving goal in the dying seconds.