City slay Chiefs to close in on second spot

by Graeme Jackson

Saturday Apr 30, 2022. 17:31

Cape Town City boosted their hopes of finishing second on the DStv Premiership log when they defeated Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 at FNB Stadium on Saturday.

The result sees the third-placed Citizens close to within one point of Royal AM in the race to finish second behind Mamelodi Sundowns and join them in the CAF Champions League next season. Chiefs, meanwhile, are placed fifth and lie five points adrift of the top three after a fourth successive loss.

After a quiet opening to the game, City took advantage of a mistake in defence from their hosts to claim the lead on 14 minutes through Craig Martin. Chiefs centre-back Daniel Cardoso, after failing to cleanly win an initial aerial long ball, looked for a header back to goalkeeper Brandon Peterson, but his effort fell short and allowed the speedy Martin to sneak in and stab home the opener.

Chiefs struggled to come up with much in response through the remainder of the first half, with their best effort a 23rd minute long-range shot from Keagan Dolly which went straight into the arms of City goalkeeper Hugo Marques.

The Citizens nearly claimed a second goal on 41 minutes when Terrence Mashego’s cross from the left found the run of Mduduzi Mdantsane, but the midfielder’s initial shot was blocked by a challenge from Cardoso and he was unable to stab home the subsequent loose ball.

Goalless at the interval, the second half opened with City making a chance in midfield, as youngster Jaeden Rhodes made way for Mpho Makola, while Chiefs waited just under 10 minutes to introduce Samir Nurkovic and Phathutshedzo Nange off their bench.

The Cape side, however, continued to look the livelier team in attack and were rewarded with a second goal to make it 2-0 in the 61st minute. Mashego played a one-two with Martin before powering into the left side of the penalty area – from a tight angle he struck on goal and found the net via the body of Peterson.

Chiefs got a goal back in the 83rd minute via substitute Dumisani Zuma. Khama Billiat ran onto a smart pass from Nange and forced a fine save out of Marques with a low shot – the subsequent loose ball was turned home at close range by Zuma to reduce the deficit to 1-2. It was the Amakhosi’s first home goal of 2022.

Zuma had a chance to level the game on 89 minutes when he was presented with a shooting chance on the right of the penalty area, but his effort was turned away by the palms of Marques – ensuring the match ended 2-1 in favour of the visitors.

The teams will return to DStv Premiership action this coming midweek, with Chiefs at home to Marumo Gallants on Tuesday 3 May, while City will visit Chippa United the following day.

Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1 (Zuma 83’)

Cape Town City (1) 2 (Martin 14’, Mashego 61’)

Chiefs: Peterson, Blom, Ngezana, Cardoso, Frosler, Alexander (Nange 54’), Nk. Ngcobo (Radebe 78’), Parker (Sekgota 64’), Dolly (Zuma 78’), Billiat, Castro (Nurkovic 54’)

City: Marques, Fisher, Cupido, Fielies, Martin (Morris 71’), Mokeke, Ambina (Mokhuoane 88’), Rhodes (Makola 46’), Mashego, Mdantsane (Nodada 71’), Mayo (May 88’)