City have to fight hard to grab a draw

CAPE TOWN CITY’S hopes of a third successive Premiership victory were snuffed out by a debatable penalty call from the referee that paved the way for Baroka FC to snatch a share of the spoils in a 2-2 draw at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.

The ref pinged Thato Mokeke for handling the ball inside the box when television replays showed the central defender trying to tuck his hands behind his back.

Citizens coach Benni McCarthy lamented two points dropped and afterwards said he didn’t understand how the penalty rule worked.

“From our side I can’t say how many games we’ve been in where there have been worse opportunities for penalties that haven’t gone our way.

“It looks like it’s penalties for some certain teams and not for others,” he said.

Baroka’s Jemandre Dickens made no mistake with the spot kick for his third goal of the campaign to put the visitors 2-1 up.

But City are a determined lot and they found top gear aided by their substitutes and it came as no surprise when they got the equaliser five minutes from time through Man of the Match Roland Putsche.

The hard-working Austrian midfielder felt his side made too many individual mistakes.

“I would have been a little happier had I scored with an earlier chance.

“To come away with a draw when we dominated the contest doesn’t feel right but we did fight till the end searching for the win and the three points,” he said

Another talking point in the game will be around who will be credited with City’s opening goal that put them in front in the 44th minute.

Ayanda Patosi has been credited the goal that should be Siphelele Mthembu’s.

The burly striker sat on five goals before the start of the game to put himself in contention for Golden Boot award that goes the way of the leading goal scorer at the end of the season, and it should now read six after his glancing header off a fine cross from left-back Ebrahim Seedat went over the goalline.

Patosi, who operated behind Mthembu, was on hand to tap-in the keepers rebound from close range for his fifth goal of the campaign.

McCarthy will be concerned with the way his charges dropped their guard after the resumption of play that allowed Baroka to strike back.

“The minds were in the changing room still and we concede a goal and then the penalty comes and now we’re chasing the game.”

City return to the venue on Wednesday evening to take on struggling Free State Stars.