MTN8 Report: Cape Town City v Polokwane City 17 August 2019

The Citizens brought in four fresh faces from their narrow win over Stellenbosch FC last weekend, that included the return of Thato Mokeke and Abbubaker Mobara. Meanwhile, Rise and Shine made only one change from their midweek defeat to Bidvest Wits, with Lesiba Nku earning a start.   Benni McCarthy's charges asserted themselves going forward and Craig Martin, who was also among the four changes, nearly setup the opening goal in the 20th minute after he picked out Mokeke, whose shot from outside the box was parried away by goalkeeper George Chigova.   However, the visitors broke the deadlock in the 26th minute thanks to Mohammed Anas, who curled a low strike to the bottom corner after he was left unmarked inside the box.   After struggling for most of the first in the final third, the Cape Town outfit were piling the pressure in the closing stages of the stanza, searching for the equaliser but the Polokwane defence stood firm to go to the break with a lead.   The Citizens were fired up in the early stages of the second stanza, threatening with crosses in the area but Chigova was easily getting under them. McCarthy made his first change 11 minutes inside the second stanza, as he brought on Kermit Erasmus in place of Chris David.   Polokwane were awarded a penalty in the 63rd minute after Nku was brought down inside the box, but Sibusiso Mbonani failed to double the lead for the visitors, as his spot-kick was saved by Peter Leeuwenburgh.   But McCarthy went for broke in the last 15 minutes as he brought on striker Siphelele Mthembu and defender Ebrahim Seedat was sacrificed.   Although, any hopes of a comeback were dashed with six minutes remaining as substitute Charlton Mashumba found the second goal for Zlatko Krmpotic's men with a curling strike from just inside the box to the bottom corner.

City: 1. Leeuwenburgh, 20. Morris, 3. Mobara, 15. Cupido, 5. Edmilson, 21. Mokeke, 6. Seedat, 10. David, 38. Kewuti, 30. Martin, 7. Links.   Subs: 16. Stephens, 2. Mkhize, 8. Makola, 9. Erasmus, 11. Ralani, 17. Norodien, 25. Mthembu.   Polokwane: 1. Chigova, 2. Mvelase, 24. Hlongwane, 22. Mbonani, 27. Motloung, 14. Manaka, 16. Mngomezulu, 6. Chauke, 3. Anas, 18. Maluleke, 33. Nku.
Subs: 50. Phali, 28. Nthatheni, 9. Mashumba, 10. Tlolane, 4. Nene, 31. Wagaba, 11. Hlubi.