Cape Town City ended a run of back-to-back losses in the DStv Premiership with a 2-0 win over Swallows FC in a game where three players were sent off on Sunday evening.
DStv Premiership
Result: Cape Town City 2-0 Swallows FC
Date: 19 February 2023
Venue: DHL Stadium
The Citizens made three changes to the side that lost to Royal AM in the Nedbank Cup on penalties, as goalkeeper Darren Keet, Khanyisa Mayo and Taahir Goedeman were recalled.
As for Swallows, they altered four places from their defeat against Stellenbosch in the Nedbank Cup, as shot-stopper Thakasani Mbanjwa, Kwanda Mngonyama, Lindokuhle Mtshali and Tawanda Macheke was handed his debut.
City had a perfect start after Goedeman gave them an early lead with a stunning volley from outside the box.
Eric Tinkler's charges gained control of the contest after that, as they had the bulk of the possession but not creating clear-cut opportunities.
Swallows got out of their defensive shell towards the end of the first stanza as they put Cape Town City under pressure with crosses in the area but they could not master a shot on target.
City regained their ascendancy after the halftime break and Taariq Fielies doubled their lead ten minutes later with another sublime strike from range.
Ernst Middendorp's troops were pinned back in their own half and were reduced to ten men on the hour-mark after Keegan Allan's tackle on Mayo, who was going clear on goal, was adjudged to be denying City's striker a clear goal-scoring opportunity and he received a red-card.
The Citizens looked to consolidate the result with a defensive and tactical change in the last 20 minutes after Thabo Nodada replaced Goedeman.
To try to contain the home side, who were threatening to run riot in the closing stages, Swallows made a double tactical change for defensive reasons, as Bongani Sam and Nicholus Lukhubeni both replaced two strikers Macheke and Evans Rusike.
Swallows had a better resistance after that but their surge at goal was a case of too little too late.
There was bit of drama in the closing stages, as both players had a player sent off after Swallows' Sam and City's Thamsanqa Mkhize were given their marching orders.Here's how they lined up:
Cape Town City: 16. Keet, 2. Mkhize, 15. Cupido, 12. Fielies, 24. Lakay, 5. Ambina, 27. Goedeman, 10. Mdantsane, 23. Rhodes, 20. Darwin, 11. Mayo
Subs: 31. Mpandle, 3. Mokeke, 6. Mokhuoane, 9. Bender, 25. Gordinho, 26. Nodada, 13. Van Heerden, 21. Mani, 19. Lekay
Swallows FC: 50. Mbanjwa, 43. Zulu, 28. Sasman, 4. Allan, Mngonyama, 6. Mthethwa, 47. Wambi, 7. Mtshali, 70. Macheke, 4. Damons, 19. Rusike
Subs: 50. Tshabalala, 2. Sibiya, 66. Sam, 32. Lukhubeni, 3. Isaacs, 38. Uromi, 34. Sait
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.
