Cape Town City came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns at Athlone Stadium in the Absa Premiership on Tuesday evening, writes DYLAN APPOLIS.
Benni McCarthy’s side came into this encounter high in confidence after coming from two goals down to secure a 3-2 victory over Bidvest Wits at Bidvest Stadium in their last league match.
Meanwhile, Pitso Mosimane’s men dropped points in their last league encounter after playing out to a goalless draw against Bloemfontein Celtic at Loftus Versfeld Stadium over the weekend.
This will be the ninth meeting between the two sides, following the Brazilians’ most recent victory over the Citizens, but both teams are tied at four wins apiece across all competitions.
The game got off to a slow start with both teams trying to find their rhythm in the opening exchanges of the match.
Sundowns dominated the midfield early on and were rewarded in the 14th minute when Emiliano Tade played a lovely ball into the path of Lebohang Maboe, who made no mistake in front of goal to put his side ahead.
The home side had a chance to level matters in the 26th minute after Kermit Erasmus sent Siphelele Mthembu through on goal with only the keeper to beat, but the City front man failed to find the target with his effort.
Sundowns nearly put their side ahead two minutes later after Hlompho Kekana delivered an excellent ball into the box to pick out Gaston Sirino, but the attacker could not get a toe to the ball as their chance went abegging.
Erasmus should have levelled matters with four minutes left to play until the half-time break, but the City striker blazed his effort over the crossbar after latching on to a Ebrahim Seedat cross.
Sundowns managed to hold on to their one-goal lead over City as the game went into the half-time interval.
The Citizens showed their intent early in the second half, and finally found the equaliser when youngster Zukile Kewuti headed the ball into the path of Erasmus, who slotted the ball home from point-blank range after Sundowns failed to clear the danger.
The visitors came close to restoring their lead in the 61st minute when Tade cleverly back-heeled the ball to find an unmarked Themba Zwane on the edge of the area, who fired a first-time strike that rattled the post.
Peter Leeuwenburgh came to his side’s rescue eight minutes later when he reacted superbly to deny Tebogo Langerman’s goal-bound effort.
Chris Davids came close to opening his account for City in the 84th minute after some good interchange with Erasmus, but the attacker blazed his shot wide of the target.
The home side’s persistence paid off and they were rewarded four minutes later after Davids curled his free kick into the top corner to beat Kennedy Mweene in goal for Sundowns.
Sundowns pushed forward in search of an equaliser in the closing stages of the game, but City held on to their lead until the final whistle to claim all three points at Athlone Stadium.
