Absa Premiership
Teams: Cape Town City 2-0 Bidvest Wits
Date: 18 January 2020
Venue: Cape Town Stadium
Cape Town City got back to winning ways in the Absa Premiership, although there was an incident of the referee being shoved by Bidvest Wits players in a heated affair at Cape Town Stadium.
The Citizens were boosted by the return of Thamsanqa Mkhize and Roland Putsche alongside the recalled Greek defender Ioannis Potouridis while Wits made only one change with Thabang Monare returning at the expense of Phathutshedzo Nange.
City had a chance to grab an early lead in the 13th minute after Bradley Ralani chipped a delightful cross inside the box but Craig Martin could not capitalise, as he guided his header over the bar.
The sides were struggling to create clear openings after that but Ralani came close to breaking the deadlock on the stroke of half-time with a curling shot that forced Wits shot-stopper Ricardo Goss.
The tempo picked up in the early exchanges of the second stanza as Jan Olde Riekerink's troops were awarded a penalty just after the hour-mark, which sparked a bit of drama from the Wits players, with a couple of their players shoving the referee.
Nevertheless, Thabo Nodada stepped up for the spot-kick but saw his effort saved Goss.
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=Kermit Erasmus finally broke the deadlock for City with 23 minutes remaining after reacting the quickest to Taariq Fielies' deflected shot that hit the post as he tapped home the rebound.
Gavin Hunt gave new signing Kgaogelo Sekgota his debut 16 minutes before time off the bench in place of Sameehg Doutie for fresh legs on the left wing.
However, Martin doubled their lead three minutes before time with a low shot past Goss after he went clear on goal from Ralani's defence splitting pass.
Martin was then sent off in stoppage time after he got his second booking for a high-foot challenge but City had already wrapped up the points as they moved three points away from the relegation zone.
Here's how they lined up:
City: 1. Leeuwenburgh, 2. Mkhize, 12. Fielies, 27. Potouridis, 5. Edmilson, 19. Putsche, 26. Nodada, 8. Makola, 30. Martin, 11. Ralani, 9. Erasmus
Subs: 16. Stephens, 38. Kewuti, 6. Seedat, 25. Lakay, 28. Mdantsane, 10. Davids, 18. Roberts
Wits: 23. Goss, 13. Hlanti, 4. Nonyane, 3. Hlatshwayo, 24. Macheke, 11. Hotto, 17. Alexander, 8. Monare, 21. Doutie, 37. Dzvukamanja, 19. Nga.
Subs: 1. Pietersen, 5. Douhadji, 7. Pelembe, 10. Domingo, 25. Motupa, 26. Ritchie, 36. Sekgota
