Absa Premiership
Result: Highlands Park (Shalulile 50', Ndoro 83') 2-0 Cape Town City
Date: 01 December 2018
Venue: Makhulong Stadium
Cape Town City's three-game winning run in the Absa Premiership came to an end after losing 2-0 to Highlands Park at the Makhulong Stadium.
The Citizens, who looking for their fourth win a row, started positively in the first ten minutes of the half with midfielder Teko Modise making them tick going forward.
Roland Putsche had an opportunity to give City the lead in the 11th minute with a long range strike that was threatening but his effort sailed slightly over the bar,
The match got physical with tackles flying around in the middle of the park as Highlands were looking to disrupt the visitors' passing game, although that led to quite scrappy affair.
Ayanda Patosi had a chance to break the deadlock for Benni McCarthy's charges seven minutes before halftime with a strike from just outside the box, but his effort was smothered by goalkeeper Marlon Heugh as the sides went into the break scoreless.
However, Peter Shalulile broke the deadlock for the hosts five minutes into the second stanza with a strike inside the box after connecting well with Lindokuhle Mbatha's cross, 1-0.
City were probing for the equaliser towards the hour-mark but they were constantly being repelled by the Highlands reinforced defence.
As a result, McCarthy altered his formation 20 minutes before time, withdrawing central midfielder Modise for the skillful Gift Links.
Thamsanqa Mkhize came close to bringing the visitors back into the game 15 minutes before time with a left-footed strike from outside the box that missed narrowly over the bar.
However, it was Highlands who got the next goals as Tendai Ndoro doubled the lead for the Lions of the North six minutes before time shortly after coming on to take the game away from City.
McCarthy's men lacked momentum in the closing minutes and saw their three-game winning run come to an end.
Here's how they lined up:
Highlands: 1. Heugh, 5. Fransman, 14. Mvala, 21. Mokoena, 23. Msimango, 45. Haoseb, 43. Mbatha, 20. Ramoraka, 38. Shalulile, 27. Sekola, 34. Motsepe.
Subs: 16. Kapini, 33. Sibande, 26. Mofokeng, 40. Mahlangu, 8. Mbunjana, 47. Ndoro, 10. Allie.
City: 1. Leeuwenburgh, 2. Mkhize, 12. Fielies, 5. Edmilson, 6. Seedat, 19. Putsche, 26. Nodada, 8. Modise (Links 70'), 10. Patosi (Martin 46'), 11. Ralani, 25. Mthembu (Kateregga 80').
Subs: 16. Stephens, 23. Matsi, 30. Martin, 7. Links, 36. Kateregga, 3. Kwanda, 14. Nana.
