Citizens face big test against unbeaten Galaxy
TONIGHT Cape Town City could become the first to claim the scalp of unbeaten TS Galaxy who are in the unique position of recording five clean sheets in as many games since the start of the season (8pm kick-off).
City’s win-loss record this season does not inspire confidence but in recent weeks the side has shown positive signs of turning its fortunes around.
Just over 10 days ago, City bagged their first win of the season with a 2-0 triumph over Kaizer Chiefs at the Cape Town Stadium.
A few days later, City crashed out of the MTN8 competition after a 2-1 defeat against AmaZulu.
However, City’s overall performance was better than their early season displays.
Up front City’s two-pronged attack of Khanyisa Mayo and Darwin Gonzalez have the potential to unlock Galaxy’s defence which passed the ultimate test when they held Sundowns to a goalless draw. Sundowns have the Premiership’s best attack.
Against AmaZulu Mayo spurned three gilt-edged scoring chances which should have consigned the Durban side to defeat.
He managed a goal late in the first half and then fired blanks for the rest of the afternoon.
Galaxy’s German manager Sead Ramovi would have noted the threat posed by Venezuelan striker Gonzalez who is a veritable mixture of football’s traditional No 9 and 10. Gonzalez, with three goals, is the side’s leading Premiership scorer, and his high work rate allows him to provide assists when exploiting gaps in the opposition defence.
In their last two outings Galaxy drew goalless against Golden Arrows and Chippa United, and they will hope their goal drought ends at the Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, today.
Galaxy’s midfield is the axis around which the team revolves and the Bathusi Aubaas-Matlala Makgalwa pairing has worked wonders for the team on defence and attack.
Aubaas kept Sundowns quiet and was named the ‘Man of the Match’ afterwards.
Ramovic expects a tough challenge.
“Cape Town City is a well-organised team based on possession play so it will be a really difficult game because I know they are a really tough team to play against,” said Ramovi .
City coach Eric Tinkler warned his team will be in trouble if they don't exploit their scoring chances.
“When you don’t take your chances, you get punished,” said Tinkler.
“The goal we conceded very early in the game (against AmaZulu) came from poor defensive errors and then you end up chasing the game.
“In the first half we created opportunities that we needed to put in the net, and we didn’t do that.
“We needed to be a little bit more patient on the ball, rotate it a little bit more.”