Cape Town City edge Maritzburg United

by Austin Ditlhobolo

Saturday Feb 23, 2019. 17:50

Cape Town City beat Maritzburg United 3-2 in Absa Premiership match at the Athlone Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

As a result, the Citizens climbed up to the third spot on the league table, while the Team of Choice remained 16th on the log.

The Citizens got off to a dream start as they broke the deadlock just seven minutes into the match.

Thamsanqa Mkhize scored from Gift Links' corner-kick to make it 1-0 to City much to the delight of the home crowd.

The Team of Choice were then forced to make a change after their captain Brian Mandela Onyango went down injured.

The Kenya international was replaced by fellow defender Nazeer Allie, who partnered with Siyanda Xulu at the heart of the defence.

Maritzburg pushed for the equalizing goal with the half-time break fast approaching.

However, City stood firm at the back and the score was 1-0 to the hosts at the interval.

The hosts continued to press the Team of Choice as they looked to double their lead in the opening stages of the second-half.

However, Maritzburg grew in confidence as the match progressed and they managed to level matters through Mxolisi Kunene.

The diminutive full-back burst into the City box before firing past goalkeeper Peter Leeuwenburgh to make it 1-1 in the 61st minute.

Parity was only restored for nine minutes as the hosts restored their lead through Links, who scored with a low shot to make it 2-1 to City.

It was soon 3-1 to City as Riyaad Norodien put his name on the scoresheet with a low effort with nine minutes left on the clock.

Maritzburg managed to score through Frank Makaringe in the 84th minutes, but the goal proved to be a consolation goal as City held on to win 3-2 on the day.

City (1) 3 (Mkhize 7', Links 70', Norodien 81')
Maritzburg (0) 2 (Kunene 61', Makaringe 84')

City: Leeuwenburgh, Mkhize (Edmilson 86'), Seedat, Fielies, Cupido, Martin, Modise, Mokeke, Ralani (Norodien 72'), Erasmus (Mthembu 60'), Links.

Maritzburg: Ofori, Mandela (Allie 25'), De Reuck, Xulu, Kunene, Timm, Shandu, Makaringe, Kutumela (Zakri 57'), Ndlovu, Mokate (Moseamedi 79').