Kaizer Chiefs (0) 0

Cape Town City (0) 1
(Mayo 58’)

FNB stadium, Nasrec

Cape Town City made off with three precious DStv Premiership points in what can only be described as a classic “smash-and-grab”, after beating Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 at FNB Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Khanyiso Mayo’s match-winning header a couple of minutes before the hour mark came from the Citizens’ only meaningful attack in a match Amakhosi ought to have won comfortably had they been more clinical in front of goal.

Most of the early action took place in the visitors’ half, as Amakhosi asserted themselves on home turf. With Ox Mthethwa adding solidity to the midfield, Edson Castillo enjoyed more freedom to influence play further upfield.

Chiefs created a number of opportunities with some inventive build-up play and had the Citizens on the back foot much of the time. Pule Mmodi looked dangerous on the left flank, linking well with Edmilson Dove to break free of his marker, forcing Darren Keet to come out and block his progress.

The front three switched positions cleverly, not allowing the City defence to settle. Ashley Du Preez popped up on the left to fire a shot wide and a short while later was found out wide on the right by a sublime Castillo pass to cross for Christian Saile to head just wide of goal.

Just past the half-hour, Njabulo Ngcobo rose to head a Yusuf Maart free kick past the post, and Maart had a shot blocked following a period of panic in the City penalty area as they frantically attempted to clear their lines.

Cape Town City were restricted to a couple of long range attempts that barely troubled Itumeleng Khune, as the Chiefs defence kept him well protected throughout the half, which ended goalless.

Amakhosi registered the first threat of the second half six minutes in with a left footed effort from Du Preez that would have found the net had he struck it either side of Keet instead of straight at him.

The deadlock was broken in the 58^th minute when two of Eric Tinkler’s three half-time substitutes, Taahir Goedeman and Darwin Gonzalez combined to set the latter free down the left, and his floated cross to the far post found Mayo unmarked who nodded the ball past Khune into the net.

Molefi Ntseki sent on Keagan Dolly for his first action of the season, following a long injury enforced absence, along with Ranga Chivaviro, and the pair added a boost of much needed energy to the Chiefs attack.

A trademark Dolly free kick was met by Njabulo Ngcobo a few yards out but Keet miraculously managed to block the defender’s goal bound effort at point blank range.

Both Dolly and Chivaviro, as well as Mthethwa, tried shots from long range in an attempt to put something on the scoreboard to reflect their dominance, yet it was not to be on this occasion, as City held out to claim the spoils.

The result sees Amakhosi slip to 7^th place in the league standings, with 11 points from their nine matches.

The league goes into recess for the FIFA internationals over the next fortnight and Chiefs’ next league fixture is away at Golden Arrows on Saturday, 28 October.

Line-ups:

Kaizer Chiefs: Khune © (32), Dove (2), Ditlhokwe (24), Nj Ngcobo (27), Frosler (39), Mthethwa (5), Maart (8) (Mdantsane (3) 77’), Castillo (17), Mmodi (13) (Dolly (10) 60’), Saile Basomboli (21) (Chivaviro (7) 60’), Du Preez (9)

Subs not used: Bvuma (44); Kwinika (4), Msimango (25), Radebe (33), Shabalala (42), Potsane (11)

Coach: Molefi Ntseki

Cape Town City: Keet (16); Mkhize © (2) (Rhodes (23) 46’) Mokeke (3), Ambina (5), Mokhuoane (6) (Goedeman (27) 46’), Cupido (15), Gordinho (25), Nodada (26), Nyama (11) (Mendoza Gonzales (20) 46’), Mayo (10) (Tshimanga (14) 86’), Kutumela (7) (van Heerden (13) 77’)

Subs not used: Mpandle (31), Sifumba (8), Paciencia (29), April (53)

Coach: Eric Tinkler