Stellenbosch produced a top performance as they outclassed Cape Town City 3-0 in the Western Cape derby at the Athlone Stadium on Wednesday.
The win included a fantastic individual effort from Fawaaz Basadien, an early contender for goal of the season.
Steve Barker’s team have dominated this fixture in recent years, having won six of their nine encounters, with one draw, and City winning twice. However, City’s last victory over Stellenbosch came back in 2020 when Jan Olde Riekerink was still in charge of the Citizens.
It was a chilly evening in Athlone, and with Stellenbosch still unable to host matches at the DC Stadium, their home game was technically in City’s backyard.
And it was Stellenbosch who almost took the early lead, but Devin Titus’s shot in the third minute, went across the face of goal and wide. Four minutes later Jaedin Rhodes had a half-attempt but his shot lacked power and Sage Stephens gathered comfortably.
Stephens put his body, and head, on the line in the 10th minute making an excellent save to stop Darwin Gonzalez’s shot from point blank range.
But the first half was soon a battle in the middle of the park, with both teams trying to find the opening. In the 22nd minute, Stellenbosch got into City’s final third, but Jayden Adams fired straight at Darren Keet.
Five minutes before the break Amadou Soukouna tried from a free-kick situation but blasted over Stephens’ goal.
But just before the half-time whistle the deadlock was broken, as Stellies pounced on an error and Andre De Jong’s long-range attempt beat Keet to make it 1-0 at the break.
Fawaaz Basadien produced a moment of brilliance and made it 2-0 in the 54th minute, launching a shot from inside his own half that flew over Keet, and while he made a good effort to back track and got a touch, he couldn’t stop the ball from going in the goal.
After a half-chance at the other end, Basadien tested Keet again, but he saved this time. But he could do nothing in the 61st minute to stop Sanele Barns from heading in Stellenbosch’s third.
Two minutes later, Keet made a good save to deny the impressive De Jong, and he was needed again not long after to stop an attempt from Ashley Cupido.
It could have been 4-0 but Keet saved a penalty from Cupido in the 85th minute, after Langelihle Phili was brought down in the box.
Victory for Barker, who get their account open in the Betway Premiership.
