- 30 NOV 2019
Cape Town City and Highlands Park played out a goalless stalemate in their Absa Premiership clash at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday evening.
Neither the Citizens nor the Lions of the North managed to really get out of second gear for the majority of the match, with a draw a fair reflection of the balance of power between the teams.
City were the more enterprising outfit from the early minutes, putting together some fine passing moves to break the high press of Highlands and threaten to get in behind the visitors’ defence on numerous occasions.
However, the home side suffered a major injury blow just over a quarter hour into the clash, with striker Kermit Erasmus pulling up with a muscular injury and forcing the early introduction of Fagrie Lakay as a substitute.
City’s first notable effort on target arrived in the 33rd minute, with winger Riyaad Norodien shooting straight at goalkeeper Marlon Heugh from a free kick. The Cape side had a few more promising moments, but the first half ended with the teams locked at 0-0.
Both teams made changes at the start of the second half, with City swapping out Norodien for Siphelele Mthembu, while Sello Motsepe replaced Reneilwe Letsholonyane for Highlands.
The visitors should have claimed the lead just a couple of minutes after the restart, with Rodney Ramagalela’s low shot parried into the danger area and Peter Shalulile ran onto the ball with almost the whole goal to aim for, but his effort was blocked on the line by Thami Mkhize.
This incident signalled the start of a sustained spell of dominance from the Lions of the North, who used the pace and movement of Shalulile to open space for midfield runners to join in the attack in a way they never quite managed in the first half.
However, Highlands’ forward momentum ran out of steam and City looked the better team in the final quarter of the match, enjoying more of the ball but struggling to create any chances of note with which to test Heugh.
In the end the teams settled for a share of the spoils, with the Lions of the North up to sixth place on 17 points, while the Citizens are up to 10th on 13 points.
The teams will return to Absa Premiership action next weekend, with Highlands away to SuperSport United on Friday 6 December and City at home to Chippa United the following day.
TEAMS
City: Stephens, Mkhize, Fielies, Edmilson Seedat, Mokeke, Nodada, Roberts, Norodien (Mthembu 46’), Ralani, Erasmus (Lakay 17’)
Highlands: Heugh, Munyai, Williams, Banda (Mbhele 89’), Rae, Mahlangu, Letsholonyane (Motsepe 47’), Mbatha (Mogaila 78’), Shalulile, Mvala, Ramagalela© Backpage TXT
SOURCED FROM THE PSL WEBSITE.
