City comeback at ‘tennis court’
Bidvest Wits (2) 2 Cape Town City (0) 3
GOALS: Wits — Thulani Hlatshwayo (29m), Gift Motupa (42m, pen)
Cape Town City — Kermit Erasmus (47m), Surprise Ralani (53m), Riyaad Norodien (68m) ● Cape Town City ensured that an Absa Premiership race that has consistently swung in fortunes would remain a four-way one with a dramatic recovery from 2-0 down to win 32 against Bidvest Wits last night.
City's witty media officer Vusi Ntimane had hilariously posted on Twitter that the Capetonians were going to Wits’ “tennis court” — the compact, outdated Bidvest Stadium — for the three points.
He could not have known, though, how it would materialise as a tennis tie-breaker.
Thulani Hlatshwayo’s headed goal and Gift Motupa’s penalty gave Wits a two-goal lead at the break. Kermit Erasmus scored his second for City to bring them back into the game two minutes after the restart and six minutes later Surprise Ralani equalised.
City's spectacular reversal was completed by Riyaad Norodien's free-kick.
The Citizens’ week in Gauteng might have gone pear-shaped after losing against leaders Mamelodi Sundowns on Wednesday. They remain in the hunt, with Wits, Downs and Orlando Pirates.
“Student” Benni McCarthy, who beat “teacher” Gavin Hunt — the coach who gave him his professional playing breakthrough at Seven Stars — four times last season, masterminded possibly his best win yet over Wits.
The first half, though, all went a bit wrong for City. They had early chances. Kermit Erasmus curled one around the post. New Dutch signing Chris David produced a nifty side-heel, culminating in Norodien chipping Darren Keet from the right, past the upright.
But Wits started to look the better structured side.
Lehlohonolo Majoro could not profit after being put through when City's defence was caught narrow. Then Hlatshwayo was free on the right from Granwald Scott’s cross to easily nod past goalkeeper Peter Leeuwenburgh.
Wits’ second came from Majoro being brought down on the line by Ebrahim Seedat. Referee Eugene Mdluli adjudged the foul inside the area, and Motupa rolled a penalty past Leeuwenburgh.
Within eight minutes of the break the Cape side had cancelled Wits’ two-goal lead.
McCarthy threw David in at the deep end with a start six days after being signed. He made a neat pass to put Erasmus through the middle to finish past Darren Keet.
Then Erasmus turned provider. The exBafana Bafana forward’s fine back-heel played in Ralani, who tried to round Keet, lost the ball, won it back and shot for Robyn Johannes to clear, Mdluli ruling the ball had crossed the goal-line.
Norodien’s free-kick powerfully beat the wall and Keet into the top-right corner.