Cape Town City continued their winning momentum with a 3-1 win over Black Leopards at the Cape Town Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
After winning the MTN8 in September, the Capetonians experienced a bit of a dip in form, but they’ve turned it around in the last two games.
Two weeks ago, they dispatched of AmaZulu 3-0 and on Sunday, they eased past a plucky Leopards team.
The score-line, though, flattered the opposition somewhat because the Citizens missed a host of opportunities. But City are gradually getting their groove back. At times, in the match against Leopards, they played some really smart passing football.
The only problem at the moment is that they are not doing it consistently enough. Leopards are an awkward side to face. They are a tough, uncompromising bunch and not afraid to get stuck in.
They are organised and very compact in the way they set up, which makes them very difficult to break down.
As such, a team need a footballer capable of going past opponents; in this way, it opens things up and creates scoring opportunities.
City had such a player in Surprise Ralani – and he was at the heart of everything the Cape side did offensively. A fantastic, jinking run from Ralani fashioned the opening for Ayanda Patosi to finish emphatically and give City a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute.
Ralani then continued to terrorise the Leopards defence, setting up another two chances for Patosi, but the forward squandered both.
Unfortunately, City’s dominance – inspired by Ralani’s superb wing play – led to a lapse in concentration at the back.
Leopards are a team always dangerous on the counter – and on one such occasion, when the Citizens’ defence nodded off to sleep, Mwape Musonda took full advantage by dashing through, rounding Dutch goalkeeper Peter Leeuwenburgh to level the scores at 1-1.
City, though, continued to press on, and it was no surprise when they took the lead again five minutes before halftime.
This time, it was a goal made in football heaven, involving a glorious passing movement featuring a number of players – and with classic one-touch football, they carved open the Leopards defence, leaving Ugandan wing Allan Kateregga with a simple tap-in.
Cape Town City midfielder Allan Kateregga celebrates scoring against Black Leopards. Photo: Phando Jikelo/African News Agency/ANA
Leopards, though, refused to give up. They kept on fighting – and they were desperately unlucky not to equalise in the 59th minute.
Musonda again found space in the City penalty area, but was foiled by a magnificent save from Leeuwenburgh.
And when the ball rebounded from the goalkeeper’s hands, Marks Munyai stabbed it wide.
Cape Town City star Ayanda Patosi is caught in an awkward position against Black Leopards defender Chris Kutjikua. Photo::Phando Jikelo/African News Agency/ANA
City took the foot off the pedal in the closing stages, and it made for a rather tight finish to a game the Citizens should have put to bed in the first half already.
But Siphelele Mthembu headed in five minutes before the close to make it 3-1, and the three points were safe. The victory will see City up to a mid-table position on the PSL log.
@Reinerss11