City march into KO final
CAPE Town City stormed into the Telkom Knockout final after a comprehensive and impressive 4-1 victory over Free State Stars at the Athlone Stadium yesterday.
As it has been all season so far, the success was achieved on the back of a superb team effort, guided by the inspirational hand of captain Lebogang Manyama.
Manyama was stretchered off injured in the 66th minute – but, by then, he’d done enough to lead his team to the final.
Only established as a club in June, when John Comitis bought the PSL franchise of Mpumalanga Black Aces, the new Mother City team has been on a fairy-tale run ever since. Currently second in the PSL, they also reached the semi-finals of the MTN8 earlier this year. In just five months, they’ve captured the imagination of the football public.
Yesterday they should have been out of sight in the first half, but for an outstanding performance from the Free State side’s goalkeeper, Thela Ngobeni. In the opening 30 minutes, when the Capetonians produced chances almost at will, slashing open the opposition defence with pace and guile, it was Ngobeni who kept his team in the game with a series of breathtaking stops.
City coach Eric Tinkler had lost both central defenders – Tshepo Gumede and Robyn Johannes – to suspension prior to the game. The former Bafana man opted to give Ghanaian defender Joseph Adjei a debut, while moving the in-form Thamsanqa Mkhize from right-back to centre-back. And, with Mkhize shifting to the middle, the experienced Vincent Kobola slotted into the right side of the defence.
But there was no need to be too concerned about defence. City’s attacking play has been sensational this season – it was always going to be a huge task for the Free Staters to deal with Manyama and Aubrey Ngoma.
The duo combined in the eighth minute, with a cleverly worked free kick, a real training ground move, but Ngoma’s snapshot was brilliantly saved by Ngobeni. A minute later, though, City took the lead, when, again, the Free State team couldn’t handle the pace of Ngoma, and the winger was brought down after a reckless foul by Katlego Mashego, and the penalty was awarded. Manyama stepped up to drill an unstoppable shot into the top corner.
Manyama’s movement and awareness of space continued to give Stars a major headache, with the City captain creating openings for Ngoma and Masina, but Ngobeni was equal to the task. In the 32nd minute, after another dash and release from Manyama found Roland Putsche in space, the Austrian made no mistake to steer the ball into the net.
Despite being under the cosh, Stars managed to pull one back from a free kick, with Thokozani Sekotlong curling a sweet shot into the top corner.
Stars were fortunate to go into the break at just 2-1 down. The half-time score could have been 12-1 to City, such was their dominance.
There was always the possibility, as often happens in this strange game of football, that City could pay the price for their first half profligacy. But it wasn’t to be – and, even though Stars were a bit tighter in the second period, they couldn’t prevent the Capetonians from increasing their advantage in the 63rd minute. Again Manyama was the provider, this time with a corner kick, and Mpho Matsi loomed large to fire in at the far post.
City were dealt a big blow three minutes later when they lost Manyama to injury, to be replaced by Judas Moseamedi. But this City side is not just a one-man team – and despite the loss of their talisman, they went 4-1 up with 10 minutes to go, with Ngoma getting a well-deserved goal.
Thabo Mnyama scored the only goal of the game for SuperSport United as they edged out Orlando Pirates 1-0 in the other semi-final. – Own reporter