Kaizer Chiefs remain unbeaten in the Absa Premiership after coming from behind to beat Cape Town City 2-1 at Newlands on Tuesday evening.
Chiefs came into the game after dropping their first points of the campaign against SuperSport United on Saturday, and were looking to keep their unbeaten record.
City, also unbeaten in the league heading into the fixture, were hoping to make a statement after last week’s draw with Mamelodi Sundowns.
It was Benni McCarthy’s men, though, who were quickest out the blocks to take the lead with just four minutes gone. Ebrahim Seedat slipped in Kermit Erasmus down the inside-left channel of the box, before the forward twisted and turned, leaving Erick Mathoho in his wake. He then finally found the finish, stroking the ball past Daniel Akpeyi at his near post.
Chiefs looked to hit back quickly, the perfect opportunity looming when Reeve Frosler picked out Lazarous Kambole in the City box, but the Zambian couldn’t hit the target from close range.
The Citizens were on top and almost doubled their lead with 25 minutes gone, when Mpho Makola whipped in a pinpoint cross to Erasmus, but this time a combination of Akpeyi and Mathoho denied the former Orlando Pirates striker a second goal.
Chiefs then, again, had to thank their Nigerian stopper as he produced a fine save in the 40th minute, denying Erasmus who fired in a low driving effort after latching on to a cross-field pass.
The break came with 1-0 to City, and Chiefs knowing a big second-half performance was needed if they were going to remain unbeaten.
Ernst Middendorp would have been pleased as his charges came out firing, thinking they had equalised through Khama Billiat right after the restart, but the goal was ruled off-side.
Billiat then came close to finding an equaliser in the 69th minute, but his effort was just before Chiefs finally got their deserved equaliser six minutes later. A free kick was awarded between the touchline and edge of the box, where Lebogang Manyama managed to expertly pick out Daniel Cardoso at the back post, who made no mistake in ensuring his powerful header hit the back of the net.
Amakhosi completed the turnaround four minutes later as the ball fell to substitute Kearyn Baccus in the City box. The midfielder managed to poke the ball past the outrushing Peter Leeuwenburg and fire his side into the lead.
City looked to push forward and find an equaliser which left them open at the back. Chiefs, however, couldn’t capitalise but managed to hold on for the important three points away from home.
