Cape Town City jumped to sixth spot on the DStv Premiership table after defeating Sekhukhune United 1-0 on Saturday evening.
DStv Premiership
Result: Sekhukhune United 0-1 Cape Town City
Date: 25 February 2023
Venue: Peter Mokaba Stadium
The Citizens made four changes to the side that beat Swallows the last time out, as Marc Van Heerden, Lorenzo Gordinho, Thabo Nodada and Bertrand Mani were recalled.
As for Sekhukhune, they had only one change from their win over Richards Bay, with former Kaizer Chiefs left-back Philani Zulu brought back and the front trio of Victor Letsoalo, Chibuike Ohizu and Vusimusi Mncube leading the attack.
The game got off to a lively start and City had a first real crack at goal on 20 minutes after Darwin Gonzalez surged through and unleashed a shot that was well saved by goalkeeper Badra Ali Sangare.
Brandon Truter's charges were in the game, threatening particularly through Letsoalo and the Bafana Bafana striker came close to breaking the deadlock shortly before the break with a looping strike that was parried to the crossbar by shot-stopper Darren Keet.
Babina Noko still had the fire in their belly from the interval as Pogiso Mahlangu had a good chance with a header in the box that brought the best out of Keet after a cross by Given Mashikinya from a set-piece situation.
However, Eric Tinkler's men also got into the game and Nodada eventually broke the deadlock for the visitors just after the hour-mark with a cracking strike from outside the box.
Sekhukhune needed to respond and with 20 minutes to go, Truter made a double change for fresh legs in attack as Elias Mokwana and Tashreeq Morris entered the fray in places of Ohizu and Mncube.
Mokwana was in the thick of things five minutes later as he nearly set up the equaliser after Roderick Kabwe had a shot that missed narrowly wide from his pass after a quick counter-attack.
As the game stretched in the dying minutes, Mani had a golden chance to seal the deal for the Cape Town side with a towering header in the box that missed by inches wide.
United also had their chances but Keet and his defence were solid, as the Citizens held on to clinch back-to-back wins and climbed up to sixth on the table.
Here's how they lined up:
Sekhukhune United: 30. Sangare, 2. Mobbie, 4. Cardoso, 39. Gyimah, 43. Zulu, 6. Mashikinya, 16. Seabi, 35. Mahlangu, 7. Mncube, 34. Ohizu, 21. Letsoalo
Subs: 1. Nsabata, 36. Ntiya-Ntiya, 39. Tshibwabwa, 24. Mokotjo, 10. Shai, 15. Kabwe, 20. Masiya, 17. Mokwana, 12. Morris
Cape Town City: 16. Keet, 15. Cupido, 25. Gordinho, 12. Fielies, 13. Van Heerden, 5. Ambina, 27. Goedeman, 26. Nodada, 23. Rhodes, 20. Darwin, 21. Mani
Subs: 31. Mpandle, 3. Mokeke, 6. Mokhuoane, 9. Bender, 10. Mdantsane, 11. Mayo, 17. Zapata, 22. Fisher, 19. Lekay
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