Cape Town City stun Bidvest Wits

by Graeme Jackson

Saturday Mar 02, 2019. 22:33

Cape Town City overcame Bidvest Wits 3-2 in an Absa Premiership match at the Bidvest Stadium on Saturday night.

The victory saw the Citizens remain fourth on the league standings, while the Clever Boys moved down to third place on the table.

The Citizens threatened first through experienced marksman Kermit Erasmus four minutes into the encounter.

The diminutive striker made a run from the left, before unleashing a shot which missed Wits goalkeeper Darren Keet's goal-posts.

It was the Clever Boys who opened the scoring one minute before the half-hour mark through their inspirational captain Thulani Hlatshwayo.

The defender headed home Granwald Scott's cross to make it 1-0 to Wits - beating City's giant shot-stopper Peter Leeuwenburgh at the near-post.

The momentum was with the hosts and they were awarded a penalty after Lehlohonolo Majoro was fouled inside the City box four minutes before half-time.

Gift Motupa then stepped up and scored from the spot-kick to make it 2-0 to Wits heading into the half-time break.

City pulled one back a minute into the second-half when Erasmus beat South Africa international Keet to make it 2-1 with a good finish.

It was soon 2-2 when Bradley Ralani scored from close range after the Wits defence was exposed and they were punished by the attacker in the 53rd minute.

The visitors continued their dominance after restoring parity and they were awarded a free-kick in a promising area seven minutes after the hour-mark.

Riyaad Norodien then stepped up and he scored with a thunderous effort from the set-piece which beat Keet hands down to make it 3-2 to City.

Wits then launched late attacks as they searched for a late equalising goal, but Leeuwenburgh made good saves to deny Scott, Deon Hotto and Daylon Claasen.

Ultimately, City ran out 3-2 winners over Wits, who had failed to hold onto their two-goal lead in the second-half.

Wits (2) 2 (Hlatshwayo 29', Motupa 43')

City (0) 3 (Erasmus 46', Ralani 53', Norodien 68')


Wits: Keet, Hlatshwayo, Mkhwanazi (Claasen 58'), Johannes, Hlanti, Scott, Alexander (Lakay 72'), Hotto, Pelembe, Motupa, Majoro (Mere 58').
City: Leeuwenburgh, Mngonyama, Cupido (Mkhize 68'), Seedat, Fielies, Kewuti, Ralani, David (Links 59'), Mokeke, Erasmus, Norodien (Graham 77').