Cape Town City thumped Swallows FC 4-0 in a MTN8 semifinal second leg tie at Dobsonville Stadium on Wednesday evening, to book their spot in the final where they will meet Mamelodi Sundowns.
Goals from Suprise Ralani (two), Fagrie Lakay and Edmilson Dove steered the Citizens to a commanding win in the rain, following a 0-0 draw in the reverse fixture at Athlone Stadium last month.
Both teams showed a lot of intent in the early exchanges but without any end product and as the rain started to pour in the 25th minute, proceedings started to go in City’s favour.
The Cape side adapted better to the wet conditions and with lightning flashes seen around the stadium, Ralani produced a moment of pure magic. Terrence Mashego found the wing-wizard who controlled the left-back’s cross with his chest before firing an unstoppable low volley past Virgil Vries in the 42nd minute of the match.
Dube Birds assistant coach Simo Dladla introduced Mwape Musonda following the break, which was extended by a few minutes due to inclement weather, and the Zambian almost made the desired impact as he rounded City goalkeeper Hugo Marques but he couldn’t beat the post from a tight angle in the 53rd minute.
He was made to rue that miss five minutes later as City doubled their lead. A quick counter-attack exposed the Swallows defensive line and Thabo Nodada’s well-weighted pass was expertly converted by Lakay who lobbed the ball over the onrushing Vries.
City effectively put the game to bed in the 68th minute following a devastating move. Again Swallows’ defence was caught out of position and this resulted in the easiest of finishes for Ralani who completed his brace with a tap-in after being set up by Nodada.
It went from bad to worse for Swallows as Dove got into the act with two minutes of regulation time remaining. The Mozambican international lost his marker before nodding home a Mpho Makola corner-kick to seal an emphatic win for the Cape club.
Swallows FC (0) 0Cape Town City FC (1) 4 (Ralani 42′ 68′ Lakay 58′ Dove 88′)TEAMS:
Swallows FC:Vries; Langerman, Sait, Sibiya, Mere, Nyatama, Matlou (Wambi 46′), Mokoena (Gamildien 66′), Ndlovu (Makgalwa 66′), Mbokoma (Musonda 46′), Malinga (Mhlongo 46′).
Cape Town City:Marques; Mashego (Dove 74′), Fasika, Fielies, Mkhize, Mobara (Cupido 82′), Mokeke, Mdantsane (Martin 75′), Ajagun (Nodada 46′), Ralani (Makola 75′), Lakay.© Backpage.
