Cape Town City returned to winning ways in the DStv Premiership after they came from behind to beat Royal AM 2-1 at the Chatsworth Stadium on a rainy Saturday afternoon.
Thwihli Thwahla scored from their solitary chance in the first half when Siphesihle Msomi opened the scoring on 19 minutes, but Taahir Goedeman drew Eric Tinkler’s side level in the 58th minute before Khanyisa Mayo completed the comeback win eight minutes later.
The Citizens closed within six points of Kaizer Chiefs (4th) in fifth position and find themselves a further two adrift of the CAF places. Royal AM remained in ninth spot after suffering their third defeat in five outings.
Royal AM were looking to go three games unbeaten in their quest for MTN 8 football, while City hoped to strengthen their place in the top eight after a four-match winless streak all but ended their top-three challenge.
The visitors just shaded possession in the first half but they made much better use of the ball and created the majority of the chances, with Lyle Lakay getting the first sniff at goal on 14 minutes when he fired straight at Mondle Mpoto from inside the area on the left.
However, the deadlock was broken at the other end five minutes later as the KZN outfit took their one and only opportunity after Elias Pelembe’s cross found Msomi, who guided the ball into the bottom right corner of the net.
The Citizens went in search of the equaliser and they finished the half strongly. Jaedin Rhodes forced a fine save out of Mpoto with a strike from range on 38 minutes, while Marc van Heerden also tested the goalkeeper moments later after getting on the end of Brice Ambina’s cross before Mayo struck the frame of the goal on the rebound.
Tinkler made three changes early in the second half and it quickly paid off as substitute Goedeman met Keanu Cupido’s cross to restore parity with a header into the top right corner of the goal.
City had their tails up now and threatened to take the lead through Mayo on the hour mark but he failed to keep his header down from Lakay’s cross, while Lorenzo Gordinho also failed to hit the target after making contact with a free-kick in the 65th minute.
Mayo would not be denied though, as he slotted past Mpoto from close range moments later after being picked out by Goedeman inside the six-yard box.
Thwihli Thwahla almost hit back nine minutes from time when two substitutes combined to produce a fantastic save out of Darren Keet, who was well placed to deny Jabulani Ncobeni from point-blank range after being picked out by Motebang Sera.
Mayo tried his luck from distance moments later but Mpoto was equal to the task and City were indebted to Keet when he pulled off another great save to prevent Sera from snatching a point the hosts at the death.
Royal AM (1) 1 (Msomi 19′)
Cape Town City (0) 1 (Goedeman 58′, Mayo 66′)
ROYAL AM: M. Mpoto, S. Mogaila, L. Manganyi, R. Nascimento (J. Ncobeni 78′), T. Matlaba (M. Thikazi 71′), K. Mahlasela (S. Magaqa 78′), S. Msomi, E. Pelembe (M. Sera 66′), T. Potsane, M. Macuphu (L. Mashiane 71′), M. Rikhotso.
CAPE TOWN CITY: D. Keet, T. Mkhize (L. Sifumba 51′), L. Gordinho, K. Cupido, M. van Heerden, R. Mokhuoane (M. Mdantsane 52′), B. Ambina, J. Rhodes (B. Mani 73′), K. Mayo, J. Zapata (T. Goedeman 52′), L. Lakay.
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