Absa Premiership
Result Cape Town City 3-2 Mamelodi Sundowns
Date: 17 August 2020
Venue: Loftus Versfeld
Mamelodi Sundowns' Absa Premiership title hopes suffered a big knock after falling to a 3-2 loss to Cape Town City on Monday night.
Click through the gallery to see images from Sundowns' loss to the Citizens.
The Brazilians made three changes from the draw with Highlands Park as Wayne Arendse, Tiyani Mabunda and Nicholus Lukhubeni were recalled while Craig Martin was preferred over Thamsanqa Mkhize at right-back for the Citizens.
The Citizens had a bright start as Bradley 'Surprise' Ralani opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a neat finish from a tight angle after his initial strike was saved by Denis Onyango following some good inter-passing.
Jan Olde Riekerink's troops should have doubled their lead five minutes later after Fagrie Lakay played a decisive cut-back from the right side of the box but Roberts and Mduduzi Mdantsane lacked communication, as they collided with each other in the centre of the box.
While the Citizens defended deep in the closing minutes of the first stanza, they did managed to double their lead on the stroke of half-time after Kermit Erasmus latched onto a through ball over the defence by Mdantsane and lobbed the on-rushing Onyango.
Masandawana pulled a goal back in first-half stoppage time after Edmilson Dove headed a teasing corner by Gaston Sirino into his own net from close range after goalkeeper Peter Leeuwenburgh came out and missed the flight of the ball.
City restored their two-goal cushion nine minutes after the break when Ralani pounced on a blunder by Arendse before lobbing Onyango from the edge of the box to complete his brace.
Sundowns had a great chance to pull a goal back in the 64th minute after Hlompho Kekana went clear on goal at the near post but he could not keep his composure as he blasted his shot high and wide, while Phakamani Mahlambi saw his volley blocked a few minutes later.
Mahlambi had another brilliant chance for Sundowns in the last seven minutes with a free header inside the box from a free-kick by Lyle Lakay but he guided his effort glaringly wide.
The Brazilians pulled another goal back as late substitute Keletso Makgalwa latched onto a through ball inside the box and poked home a low shot beyond the on-rushing Leeuwenburgh.
However, the Citizens managed to see off a late push from Mosimane's charges to claim three points, which sees the side move up to seventh spot while second-placed Sundowns remain six points behind league leaders Kaizer Chiefs.
Here's how they lined up:
City: 1. Leeuwenburgh, 12. Fielies, 3. Mobara, 5. Edmilson, 30. Martin, 28. Mdantsane, 26. Nodada, 18. Roberts, 23. Lakay, 9. Erasmus, 11. Ralani.
Subs: 15. Stephens, 2. Mkhize, 27. Potouridis, 6. Seedat, 8. Makola, 15. Cupido, 20. Morris, 38. Kewuti, Appollis.
Sundowns: 14. Onyango, 32. Lukhubeni, 4. Langerman, 6. Arendse, 13. Mabunda, 40. Coetzee, 21. Mkhulise, 8. Kekana, 10. Sirino, 18. Zwane, 33. Maboe.
Subs: 30. Pieterse, 26. Makgalwa, 36. Mkhuma, 2. Madisha, 11. Vilakazi, 15. Jali, 17. Mahlambi, 7. Lakay, 29, Soumahoro.
