Muhsin Ertugral began his reign at Cape Town City with a 1-0 win over Kaizer Chiefs in their Betway Premiership clash at the DHL Stadium on Sunday evening.
In recent years, this has not been a fixture that Chiefs have struggled in, and the Amakhosi had won just once in their last eight meetings (in the 2023 MTN8). There was added intrigue to the fixture, with former Chiefs coach Ertugral taking charge of City after Eric Tinkler’s exit.
Nasreddine Nabi was hoping to build on their win in the previous game, where they edged Chippa United, and they started on the positive foot, with an attempt in the opening minute saved from Ashley Du Preez.
Darwin Gonzalez meanwhile went just wide at the other end in the third minute, with a shot that flew across Bruce Bvuma’s goal. Two minutes later Yusuf Maart curled one just wide of Darren Keet’s goal.
It was end-to-end stuff and Keet had to make a good save in the 17th minute from close range to keep out a Mduduzi Shabalala attempt from close range, while Shabalala was off target a minute later from outside the area.
Jaedin Rhodes had an attempt blocked in the 21st minute as both teams continued to push for the opener. Gonzalez’s long-range attempt in the 33rd minute was always going off target, as was Prins Tjiueza’s chance a minute later.
Just before the break, Du Preez did well to dribble past two defenders and into the box but his cross-come-shot flew across goal and was cleared to safety.
Like in the first half, it was Chiefs who started the second 45 on the front foot, but five minutes in City found themselves on the counterattack. Gonzalez broke free down the left, supported by two players, but the City winger did not need his teammates as he fired in past Bvuma to make it 1-0.
It could have been two a few minutes later, but Rhodes was unable to steer his attempt on target.
Shabalala’s deflected effort in the 58th minute was comfortably saved by Keet, while Maart’s shot in the 61st minute was blasted over.
Substitute Mfundo Vilakazi went close in the 73rd minute from a free kick, but Keet made a good diving save to deny the teenager. Another sub Bradley Cross went wide with a first-time shot a few minutes later.
Du Preez had a good chance in the 87th as he rounded an advancing Keet, but Lorenzo Gordinho made a good block to deny the former Stellenbosch forward.
And so it ended 1-0 in City’s favour with Ertugral getting one over his former club, just a second ever victory as an opposing coach in eight previous meetings at various clubs.
