Putsche spares City’s blushes

by Staff Reporter

Saturday Jan 12, 2019. 22:12

Roland Putsche netted a late equaliser as Cape Town City salvaged a 2-2 draw at home to Baroka FC in an Absa Premiership clash at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday evening.

The point apiece sees the Citizens move up to sixth place, while Bakgaga remain in 14th but will be happy at claiming a vital away point in their battle against relegation.

City created the first clear chance of the match, with a 10th minute corner kick seeing Tariq Fielies head toward goal, but Baroka defender Matome Kgoetyane was well placed to clear the effort off his own line.

Baroka offered some sporadic attacking threat, but generally the Cape side looked the more capable and confident team going forward. They created another good chance in the 37th minute when Roland Putsche got ahead of his marker to meet Ayanda Patosi’s cross, but he put his header wide of the mark.

The Citizens’ goal finally arrived in the 45th minute. A fine cross from Ebrahim Seedat saw Siphelele Mthembu send a glancing header onto the inside of the far post – the rebound off the upright was fumbled by Elvis Chipezeze, allowing Patosi a tap-in from close range.

The goal was credited to Patosi, but television replays suggested Mthembu’s header crossed the line in totality after it struck the woodwork and the strike may yet be reassigned.

Baroka struck back five minutes into the second half, with Matome Mabeba providing a fine cross from the left by-line and Tebogo Sodi got ahead of Thato Mokeke to glance the ball home at the near post.

The goal, which came almost out of nowhere, sparked Bakgaga into life and in the 55th minute they earned a fortuitous penalty. Goodman Mosele’s cross from the right struck the hand of Mokeke at very close range and the referee pointed to the spot.

Young striker Jemondre Dickens confidently converted the kick in the 56th minute to put the Limpopo side 2-1 up.

City almost struck back immediately through a long-range thunderbolt from Putsche. The Austrian hammered a shot toward goal and saw his effort rebound off the underside of the crossbar, with Chipezeze helpless to lay a finger on it.

The hosts mounted a barrage of attacks in the dying stages and finally came up with an equaliser in the 85th minute, as Putsche’s energetic performance was rewarded with a goal. The midfielder latched onto a loose ball in the penalty area and fired home through a crowd of bodies.

City will return to Absa Premiership action in midweek when they host Free State Stars on Wednesday 16 January, while Baroka will be away to Orlando Pirates on Tuesday 22 January.

Cape Town City (1) 2 (Patosi 45’, Putsche 85’)
Baroka FC (0) 2 (Sodi 50’, Dickens 56’ pen)

City: Leeuwenbergh, Mkhize, Fielies, Mokeke, Seedat, Putsche, Nodada, Martin (Rusike 74’), Patosi (Mngonyama 66’), Links (Akosah-Bempah 86’), Mthembu

Baroka: Chipezeze, Kgoetyane, Semenya, Sibiya, Gebhardt, Mabeba (Chawapiwa 66’), Madigoe, Mosele, Makgaga, Sodi, Dickens (Madubanya 82’)