Thabo Nodada's last-gasp goal gave Cape Town City FC a 1-0 win over Marumo Gallants FC at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.
Result: Cape Town City 1-0 Marumo Gallants
Date: 19 March 2022
Venue: Cape Town Stadium
Marumo created the first opening of the match, as Miguel Timm made a good run and slid a pass into the box for Serge Junior Dion, who got to it before Hugo Marques but the keeper smothered the striker's toe poke.
Cape Town City almost took the lead through a mistake from Timm. The defensive midfielder gave it away close to his own box and Craig Martin laid it off to Khanyiso Mayo, but the move fizzled out.
Gallants were having most of the possession but failing to penetrate. It was a tight game with neither side giving away much defensively.
The first half was a dour affair indeed and both coaches would have been asking their side for more in terms of attack.
The game opened up significantly in the second half and City had a decent chance in the 53rd minute. Martin got a good cross into the area and Khanyiso Mayo was completely unmarked but he headed a long way off target.
Darwin Gonzalez does fine work down the left and plays a low cross towards Mayo, but Nonyane slides in to clear well for Marumo Gallants.
Shortly after the hour mark Thamsanqa Mkhize did good work down the City right and his low cross eventually reached Terrence Mashego with a Gonzalez layoff but his shot went miles over the bar.
In the 73rd minute, City played direct from Taariq Fielies for the diagonal run of Martin, who took a superb first touch and laid it back to Mayo but he shot wildly over the bar.
After being non-existent in the first half, City were now definitely side on the top. A corner caused chaos in the Gallants box and Nathan Idumba Fasika headed it down and Fielies shot on the turn, forcing another fine save out of Ndlovu.
Eric Tinkler's men were all over Gallants like a bad rash. A good pass released Gonzales on the left of the box and he attempted to place it into the far corner but King Ndlovu made a fine save.
The hosts finally got a goal to win the match. Gonzalez and Mduduzi Mdantsane combined to tee up Nodada to shoot from 25 yards. The low effort wasn't that powerful but still beat an unsighted Ndlovu.
City: 1. Hugo, 2. Mkhize, 4. Fasika, 12. Fielies, 14. Mashego, 21. Mokeke, 27. Goedeman, 29. Ambina, 30. Martin, 9. Gonzalez, 17. Mayo.
Subs: 31. Mpandle, 22. Fisher, 15. Cupido, 49. Rhodes, 6. Mokhuoane, 26. Nodada, 28. May, 20. Morris, 10. Mdantsane.
Gallants 16. Ndlovu, 29. Gumede, 4. Hlatshwayo, 5. Mabotja, 18. Nonyane, 6. Timm, 11. Otladisa, 10. Ngema, 20. Ndlondlo, 21. Molangoane, 33. Dion.
Subs: 36. Arubi, 22. Thangwane, 23. Mnyamane, 47. Mogakwe, 3. Manaka, 15. Mphambaniso, 50. Sibeko, 30. Kumalo, 12. Khiba.
