Cape Town City leapfrogged Royal AM into the final CAF Champions League spot on the standings with a 2-0 win over TS Galaxy on Saturday night.
DStv Premiership
Result: Cape Town City 2-0 TS Galaxy
Date: 07 May 2022
Venue: Cape Town Stadium
The Citizens made five changes from their goalless draw against Chippa United with Mduduzi Mdantsane, Thabo Nodada, Darwin Gonzalez, Keanu Cupido and Relebogile Mokhuoane recalled while the Rockets were unchanged from their win over Orlando Pirates.
The game got off to a lively start as Orebotse Mongae beat City's high line in the sixth minute to go through on goal but Cupido made a great recovery tackle from behind.
Thamsanqa Mkhize guided a free header at the back post wide from a corner on 16 minutes, but Gonzalez broke the deadlock for Eric Tinkler's charges a minute later with a wonderful volley in the box from Mkhize's cross.
Sead Ramovic's men were a threat on transitions and Sphiwe Mahlangu should have levelled matters on the half-hour mark after he went clear on goal, but he dragged his shot just wide of the gaping net after rounding Hugo Marques.
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Galaxy continued to carve out clear openings from counter-attacks early in the second stanza as Bathusi Aubaas came close to snatching the equaliser with a low strike at the near post that was parried away by Marques.
Desperate for the equaliser, the Rockets made an attacking change just after the hour-mark as Augustine Kwem replaced Mongae while a couple of minutes later the Citizens made a tactical and defensive switch, as Nathan Fasika came in for Gonzalez.
City refreshed the side with the introduction of Mpho Makola and Mogamat May in the last ten minutes and the changes had the desired effect as they were awarded a penalty after Pogiso Sanoka brought down Craig Martin in the box.
Mdantsane stepped up to take the spot-kick and coolly chipped his effort down the middle to doubled the lead for Tinkler's men.
Galaxy did not drop down their heads, as Kwem came close to pulling a goal back in the dying minutes with a header at the back post that was heroically kept out by Marques in the top corner as the encounter finished 2-0 in Cape Town.
Here's how they lined up:
City: 1. Marques, 2. Mkhize, 15. Cupido, 12. Fielies, 14. Mashego, 6. Mokhuoane, 26. Nodada, 10. Mdantsane, 9. Gonzalez, 30. Martin, 17. Mayo.
Subs: 16. Keet, 22. Fisher, 21. Mokeke, 20. Morris, 27. Goedeman, 4. Fasika, 49. Rhodes, 8. Makola, 28. May.
Galaxy: 38. Buthelezi, 45. Sanoka, 3. Seedat, 5. Msimango, 23. Munyai, 35. Mbatha, 13. Hlongwane, 15. Aubaas, 44. Mongae, 6. Mbunjana, 27. Mahlangu.
Subs: 32. Kolak, 4. Mahlangu, 8. Nduli, 30. Mere, 47. Teto, 25. Fakude, 17. Kwem, 14. Radebe, 49. Sebelebele.
