City grab vital win over Baroka
It wasn’t pretty but the three points are all that matter to the struggling Citizens
CAPE Town City are off the foot of the Absa Premiership log standings after seeing off Baroka FC 1-0 in a bottom-of-the-table clash at Cape Town Stadium yesterday.
Captain Thami Mkhize got the decisive goal in the 68th minute to end a five-game winless run for the Citizens, who move out of the relegation zone to 11th on the 16-team standings now propped up by Baroka.
It was also a first goal and first victory for City’s new Dutch coach Jan Olde Riekerink, who replaced axed Benni McCarthy in the first week of November.
City deserved reward after a tough season that now shows three wins for them from 16 games.
They started the encounter with patience in their build-ups, the interpassing was accurate, but work still needs to be done offensively.
Limpopo-based Baroka kept their shape well and did threaten on a couple of occasions on the counter-attack, their strikers Gerald Phiri and Tshediso Patjie getting shots away at City goalkeeper Peter Leeuwenburgh without troubling the tall Dutchman.
The contest played out in front of a fair-sized crowd evened out with both sides enjoying an equal amount of territory and possession, and now and again threatened.
City midfielder Thabo Nodada had his hands on his head after shooting over the crossbar from close in. He later would have another go from inside the penalty area with his effort blocked by a defender.
Chris David playing behind fitagain striker Kermit Erasmus had a couple of promising runs into the 18-yard area and a shot blocked as well, while right-back Mkhize wasn’t able to find any power meeting an in-coming corner with his head from close range.
The home side’s fans were up in arms on a number of occasions voicing disapproval at some of the tackles being dished out to their men, especially the one on Craig Martin, while no doubt also trying to spur them on, fully aware of how the club has struggled to end up on the right side of the results delivered to this point.
Former Fulham player
David should have supplied the breakthrough in the final few minutes before half-time when, after smart inter-passing, fired straight into the gloves of shot-stopper Elvis Chipezeze. The visitors blew the best chance of all when Patjie in a one-on-one with on-rushing Leeuwenburgh shot just wide of the target.
The second half saw Baroka replicate their opponent’s way of doing business in terms of ball distribution, but little for them to smile about as City held their line. Surprise Ralani had a charge at Chipezeze snuffed out 20 minute in but made it count soon afterwards through Mkhize.
The Bafana Bafana defender, who missed the last game of the year with an injury, was again his usual self with his barging runs downfield proving a handful for the defence. Nodada could have doubled the advantage with 10 minutes to go but was twice denied by some fine work by the keeper.
All City had to do now with ensure they held onto their lead, and while given the odd scare by a desperate foe, did just that.