Absa Premiership
Result: Cape Town City 1-0 Free State Stars
Date: 05 May 2017
Venue: Cape Town City
Cape Town City moved up to second spot in the Absa Premiership standings, after recording a 1-0 win over Free State Stars on Friday evening.
City enjoyed a good start to the encounter and showed their attacking intent early on, but they were only restricted to efforts from distance in the opening 10 minutes.
Stars, meanwhile, started to make things happen after 20 minutes with a lot of their play coming down the right flank through Katlego Mashego but they failed to test City goalkeeper, Shu-Aib Walters.
It was City who should have been ahead after 23 minutes but Stars goalkeeper, Thela Ngobeni produced a superb save to deny Aubrey Ngoma from six-yards out.
That proved to be City's only clear-cut chance of the half as they struggled with their decision-making in the final third.
Nonetheless, Stars could not break the deadlock in the closing stages of the opening half as the sides went into the break all square.
City continued to struggle in the final third upon resumption of the second half, which prompted Eric Tinkler to introduce Bhongolwethu Jayiya for Letsi Koapeng in the 55th minute.
However, the hosts eventually broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute as Judas Moseamedi rose well to head home Vincent Kabola's cross, 1-0.
Stars then went on the attack in search of an equaliser, while Tinkler opted for defensive change in the 78th minute by introducing Ebrahim Seedat for Edmilson.
However, the home side managed to see off the late surge by Ea Lla Koto to secure three points, which sees them move up to second spot, two points behind Bidvest Wits.
Here's how they lined up:
City: 1. Walters, 4. Kobola, 16. Johannes, 21. Mokeke, 39. Edmilson (Seedat 78'), 19. Putsche, 26. Nodada, 8. Manyama, 11. Ngoma, 20. Moseamedi, 9. Koapeng (Jayiya 55').
Stars: 32. Ngobeni, 5. Mashehe (Potsane 80'), 20. Mashego, 19. Mbhele, 50. Vilakazi, 4. Makhaula, 35. Teyise, 44. Mahamutsa, 7. Sekotlong, 26. Dlamini, 37. Maphakisa.
