Absa Premiership – Tuesday night full-time result
MagRush writer | August 28, 2019
Cape Town City 1-2 Kaizer Chiefs
Highlands Park 2-1 Amazulu
Chiefs came from behind in the second half to beat CT City in a packed Newlands stadium on Tuesday night.
City went ahead just on the 3rd minute of the game when Kermit Erasmus gave the home side the lead to a rousing cheer in the stands. Upon returning from the break, Khama Billiat’s apparent goal (in the 47th minute) was disallowed due to infringement. However, Chiefs equalized in the 75th minute through Daniel Cardoso and Kearyn Baccus scored the second goal in the 80th minute. Chiefs supporters went into absolute delirium.
On the 23rd minute of the first half, Chiefs survived a scare moment when Erasmus nodded a thumping header goalwards. With the goalkeeper [Daniel Akpeyi] fumbling, Chiefs centerback, Eric Matoho, cleared the ball from creeping into the back of the net. Lebogang Manyama spirited sprints in the middlefield of the park gave City food for thought. Nevertheless, City’s threat came from Erasmus in the first half receiving deft passes from Mpho Makola in the middlefield; however, they both faded away and got substituted in the second half.
At the end of the game, the deflated Cape Town City head coach [Benni McCarthy] said:
It was a game of two halves. Players don’t seem to understand how big teams play. In the first half, “we were fantastic;” there was one team on the pitch. No disrespect to Chiefs. “We rue the opportunities we missed.” Chiefs didn’t do much; from nothing, they created two chances and used them.
Tonight’s win places Chiefs on top of the Absa Premiership table with ten [10] points after four [4] games. Ernst Middendorp – Kaizer Chiefs head coach – said they [Chiefs] are happy to bag the three [3] points. It was a difficult start coming from a draining game last Saturday, he emphasized suppressing an obvious relief on his face.
In Makhulong stadium, Highlands Park saw off the struggling Amazulu under the Tembisa sky night.
Bongi Ntuli offered Amazulu a ray of hope when he scored in the 40th minute only for his goal to be smothered by Tendai Ndoro 5 minutes later [45th minute]. Energized by the half-time talk, Peter Shalulile leaped Highlands Park into the lead in the 62th minute.
Amazulu’s winless streak continues and remain firmly rooted at the bottom of the league standings after four [4] games. They have so far managed only one [1] point from a draw. Not so good a start.