Cape Town City break Sundowns hearts

by Graeme Jackson

Tuesday Mar 05, 2019. 21:26

Cape Town City secured a 2-1 win over Mamelodi Sundowns in an Absa Premiership match at the Athlone Stadium on Tuesday night.

As a result, the Citizens moved up to third place on the league table, while the Brazilians slipped down to second spot.

The Brazilians started the match brightly with the front four, Themba Zwane, Gaston Sirino, Emiliano Tade and Lebohang Maboe combining well.

The visitors managed to grab an early goal when Tade set-up Maboe, who beat City goalkeeper Peter Leeuwenburgh with a great finish to make it 1-0 to Sundowns 13 minutes into the game.

The Citizens pressed the Brazilians after conceding as they looked to restore parity, but they were wasteful in front of goal as Bradley Ralani's effort was well-saved by Sundowns keeper Kennedy Mweene.

Kermit Erasmus then played his strike-partner Siphelele Mthembu through on goal, and the latter fired wide with only Mweene to beat as the Brazilians survived a scare.

The Sundowns defence which was marshalled by the experienced Anele Ngcongca then contained City's speedy attackers until the match referee blew the half-time whistle.

The score was 1-0 to Sundowns at the interval thanks to Maboe's early goal.

The Citizens pushed for the equalising goal after the restart and they deservedly levelled matters through former Orlando Pirates striker Erasmus nine minutes into the second half.

The South Africa international pounced and fired home from close range to make it 1-1 - netting his third goal in as many league games after the Sundowns defence was caught ball watching.

The Brazilians tried to respond with a goal and the came close to scoring when Tade's clever back heel found Themba Zwane, who hit the post just after the hour-mark.

Pitso Mosimane, the Sundowns coach, introduced Phakamani Mahlambi, who netted against Cape Town City last week, in the 74th minute as the visitors searched for a late winning goal.

However, it was Chris David who proved to be a super-sub as he came off the bench to score the winning goal with a beautiful free-kick in the 87th minute - sealing City's 2-1 win over Sundowns.

City (0) 2 (Erasmus 54', David 87')
Sundowns (1) 1 (Maboe 13')

City: Leeuwenburgh, Edmilson, Mkhize, Seedat, Fielies, Kewuti, Ralani, Mthembu (David 70'), Mokeke, Erasmus (Martin 86'), Norodien (Links 63').

Sundowns: Mweene, Langerman, Ngcongca, Lebusa, Coetzee, Mabunda, Kekana, Zwane, Sirino (Mahlambi 74'), Tade (Jali 86'), Maboe (Laffor 90').