Orlando Pirates missed an opportunity to go top of the Betway Premiership as they lost 1-0 to Cape Town City in their fixture at the DHL Stadium on Wednesday evening.
It was City’s new technical director Muhsin Ertugral’s second game in charge, and just like against Kaizer Chiefs on Sunday, it was against a team he had previously coached.
Both teams understood the importance of a victory in Cape Town, with Pirates having an opportunity to go top, while a win for City would take them into the top eight. And with that importance, any thought that Jose Riveiro might rotate his starting line-up with a key CAF Champions League game against CR Belouizdad on the weekend was thrown out the window. The Spanish coach named a formidable lineup, with just suspended Makhehlene Makhaula out from the team that started on the weekend against Stade D’Abidjan. Ertugral meanwhile made three changes to the team that started against Chiefs.
It was the visitors with the early impetus, buoyed on by thousands of Pirates fans who had filled the stadium, but they struggled to break through against a well-organised defensive set-up. The first shot in anger only came in the 7th minute, and Mohua Nkota’s shot failed to trouble Darren Keet.
A counterattack from Relebohile Mofokeng down the left a minute later almost caused problems, but his shot flew into the side-netting.
It was City who almost broke the deadlock in the 12th minute after Jody Ah-Shene broke down the right, and delivered a good low cross, however Sipho Chaine was able to just get to the ball ahead of Darwin Gonzalez, and regathered before Prins Tjiueza could pounce.
And Pirates went even closer a minute later, as Kabelo Dlamini’s shot beat Keet only to hit the crossbar, Thalente Mbatha fired wide on the follow-up. Dlamini had another chance in the 17th minute but this time, his shot took a deflection and Keet gathered comfortably, while Mbatha’s long-range attempt in the 21st minute was directly at the City goalkeeper.
Tjiueza fired straight at Chaine in the 31st minute, while five minutes later Mofokeng went wide at the other end. Just before the break, Darwin Gonzalez had a shot deflected behind and it remained goalless in a half that saw plenty of opportunities, and also plenty of fire, with the officials having to step in several times to keep the calm.
City created a good opportunity in the 50th minute, but Jody Ah-Shene’s attempt was fired over Chaine’s goal. Dlamini had another chance in the 54th minute as Pirates almost pounced on a defensive error, but his curled effort was just wide.
Mbatha almost put Pirates ahead in the 68th minute with a well-struck long shot that Keet saved. A minute later, Pirates were awarded a penalty, although the referee got the call wrong, with Tshegofatso Nyama adjudged to have fouled Patrick Maswanganyi, but it was actually Maswanganyi who committed the foul. However Maswanganyi was unable to convert, his shot struck the woodwork and Keet was able to gather.
Pirates were pushing and Maswanganyi went close again in the 73rd minute, but Keet saved from at close range.
But it was City who would take the lead a minute later. Tjiueza setting up Gonzalez to get his second goal in as many games.
Tjiueza had a chance to wrap up the result, as he broke free in the 82nd minute, but after rounding Chaine, his shot lacked power and was cleared off the line. A minute later substitute Jaedin Rhodes’ deflected effort was saved by Chaine.
In stoppage time, Evidence Makgopa tried from the edge of the area, but shot straight at Keet.
When the final whistle blew, City held on for the three points, and Ertugral picked up back-to-back wins in his first two games in charge.
