Kaizer Chiefs' hopes of securing CAF Champions League football seem to fading after they suffered a fourth straight loss in the DStv Premiership on Saturday.
DStv Premiership
Result: Kaizer Chiefs 1-2 Cape Town City
Date: 29 April 2022
Venue: FNB Stadium
Chiefs made two changes from the defeat to Golden Arrows, as Daniel Cardoso was recalled in place of Njabulo Ngcobo, who was left out of the squad, while veteran attacker Bernard Parker replaced Ramahlwe Mphahlele.
Amakhosi were on the front foot in the early stages but went behind in the 14th minute from another costly error at the back after Cardoso's headed pass towards goalkeeper Brandon Petersen was intercepted by Craig Martin, who swept the loose ball into a gaping net.
Chiefs picked themselves up and worked their way around a deep block from City but they could not find their through behind the defence.
The hosts were shaky in defensive duties, as they were nearly punished again just before the halftime break after Mduduzi Mdantsane latched onto a cut-back by Martin from a counter-attack but his toe-poked effort from close-range lacked power and was gathered by Petersen.
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Chiefs struggled to combine after the halftime break, as City were more threatening on transitions and Arthur Zwane brought on Phathutshedzo Nange in place of Cole Alexander to stabilise the midfield and Samir Nurkovic replaced Leonardo Castro for fresh legs up top.
The visitors eventually doubled their lead on the hour-mark after Terrence Mashego exchanged passes with Martin go through on goal and fired a cracking strike that deflected off Petersen and into the back of the net at his near post.
Chiefs lacked the spark going forward and in the last 12 minutes Zwane introduced Dumisani Zuma and Sabelo Radebe in places of Keagan Dolly and Nkosingiphile Ngcobo to inject pace upfront.
The changes had the desired effect for Amakhosi, as Zuma pulled a goal back seven minutes before time with a tap-in at the back post after shot-stopper Hugo Marques parried Khama Billiat's low diagonal shot on his path.
Chiefs sprung to life in the dying minutes and Zuma had a chance to snatch the equaliser after a through ball in the box but his thumping strike was saved by Marques and the Citizens held on to reduce the gap behind Royal AM to just one point in third place on the log.
Here's how they lined up:
Chiefs: 1. Petersen, 20. Ngezana, 4. Cardoso, 45. Blom, 39. Frosler, 17. Alexander, 12. Nkosingiphile Ngcobo, 10. Dolly, 11. Billiat, 25. Parker, 8. Castro.
Sub: 44. Bvuma, 2. Mphahlele, 9. Nurkovic, 6. Baccus 24. Nange, 28. Zuma, 33. Radebe, 26. Mabiliso, 14. Sekgota.
City: 1. Marques, 22. Fisher, 15. Cupido, 12. Fielies, 14. Mashego, 21. Mokeke, 29. Ambina, 10. Mdantsane, 49. Rhodes, 30. Martin, 17. Mayo
Subs: 16. Keet, 28. May, 6. Mokhuoane, 27. Goedeman, 26. Nodada, 31. Mpandle, 8. Makola, 9. Gonzalez
