Stellenbosch FC rallied back from two goals down to defeat Cape Town City 3-2 in a thrilling Cape derby on Friday night.
DStv Premiership
Result: Stellenbosch 3-2 Cape Town City
Date: 27 January 2023
Venue: Danie Craven Stadium
The Citizens made only one change to the side that edged TS Galaxy the last time out, as Marc Van Heerden took the place of Lyle Lakay, who dropped down to the bench. Stellies, meanwhile, were boosted by the return from suspension of Junior Mendieta.
Eric Tinkler's charges had a perfect start as Lorenzo Gordinho opened the scoring within the first five minutes with a close range finish for his first goal for the club.
Stellies were chasing the game from there, as City had their tails up and controlled the game, although with little goal-scoring opportunities from both ends.
The game only came to life again towards the interval, as Gonzalez doubled the lead for the visitors with a strike in the six-yard box with a chip over goalkeeper Sage Stephens after a through ball by Zapata.
The home side did not drop their heads, as Titus reduced the deficit on the stroke of halftime with a shot from out of the box.
Steve Barker's men came back from the break fired up as Titus restored parity ten minutes later with a shot into the far corner to complete his brace after he was teed up by Mendieta.
With the aim of getting back on the front foot, Tinkler made an attacking switch as he introduced Khanyisa Mayo, who missed the last two games through injury, in place of Thabo Nodada.
The game produced fireworks after that, as City goalkeeper Darren Keet and his opposite number Stephens were kept busy and with the game up for the taking in the last 20 minutes, Barker threw in the fresh legs of two strikers Sinethemba Mngomezulu and Antonio Van Wyk.
Barker's instincts were proved to be right in the dying minutes as Mngomezulu fired home the winner with a composed shot into the top corner against the run of play.
The win took Stellenbosch up to 12th on the table while City remain in seventh place.
Here's how they lined up:
Stellenbosch: 17. Stephens, 28. Makhanya, 25. Andries, 7. Van Rooyen, 6. Mthethwa, 10. Mendieta, 22. Sibande, 27. Jabaar, 23. Adams, 34. Titus, 42. Boji
Subs: 35. Langeveldt, 26. Mcaba, 12. Mgaga, 3. Letsoenyo, 21. Basadien, 8. Nduli, 16. Hahn, 29. Van Wyk, 37. Mngomezulu
Cape Town City: 16. Keet, 2. Mkhize, 25. Gordinho, 12. Fielies, 13. Van Heerden, 3. Mokeke, 5. Ambina, 26. Nodada, 20. Darwin, 17. Zapata, 21. Mani
Subs: 31. Mpandle, 6. Mokhuoane, 8. Makola, 9. Bender, 11. Mayo, 15. Cupido, 24. Lakay, 48. Rhodes, 27. Goedeman.
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