Result: Cape Town City 0-0 Maritzburg United
Date: 19 May 2021
Venue: Cape Town Stadium
Cape Town City failed to break down a stubborn Maritzburg United side who were reduced to ten men as the sides played to a 0-0 draw at Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday.
City made five changes bringing in Keanu Cupido, Mpho Makola, Aubrey Ngoma, Thabo Nodada and Mduduzi Mdantsane, while Maritzburg were unchanged from their last outing.
City won a corner in the seventh minute and Makola's outswinging delivery was headed narrowly wide by Fagrie Lakay.
Soon after, Fares Hachi and Thabiso Kutumela combined to set the full back on goal but Hachi slipped while shooting and missed with his effort just wide of the left hand post.
In the 15th minute City worked the ball from the back, Siphelele Ntshangase produced a terrible back header for Maritzburg and Nodada burst down the left. He found Ngoma in the box but the veteran winger swept his shot just wide of the post.
Ten minutes later, City produced some good interplay down the left and released Terrence Mashego in a good position on the left of the box but he was wasteful and snatched at his shot which went across the face of goal.
The Team of Choice were reduced to ten men in the 68th minute as Hachi was shown a second yellow for a late tackle on Craig Martin.
It was a niggly affair, especially in the second half with the sides both committing more than 10 fouls each over the course of the encounter.
In the 72nd minute, Lakay's right footed shot from outside the box was saved in the centre of the goal after he was assisted by Mdantsane.
With 15 minutes to go, Makola went for a speculative long-range effort but it sailed well over the bar.
The Citizens were piling the pressure on the ten men of Maritzburg, who were just looking to hold on for the point it appeared.
And Ernst Middendorp's side did indeed manage to hold on, lifting themselves above Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila and into 12th position.
City: 1. Leeuwenburgh, 30. Martin, 12. Fielies, 15. Cupido, 14. Mashego, 21. Mokeke, 8. Makola, 26. Nodada, 23. Lakay, 10. Ngoma, 28. Mdantsane.
Subs: 40. Anderson, 3. Mobara, 11. Ralani, 7. Zulu, 18. Roberts, 13. Ajagun, 48. Goedeman.
Maritzburg: 31. Engelhardt, 42. Rae, 19. Hachi, 16. Daniels, 22. Stevic, 17. Claasen, 11. Tlolane, 15. Ntshangase, 6. Graham, 7. Kutumela, 19. Moseamedi
Subs: 30. Mpandle, 4. Allie, 45. Mngonyama, 26. Shandu, 25. Ismail, 5. Morgan, 12. Modise, 40. Buthelezi, 37. Zondi
