Sekhukhune United registered their first home win in the DStv Premiership by beating Cape Town City 1-0 at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday.
Chibuike Ohizu’s fourth goal of the league season fired Babina Noko up to fifth on the 2021-22 league standings while City dropped down to 12th spot, and are now winless in four matches.
Both teams showed a lot of attacking intent from the onset and there were chances galore at either end of the pitch in the first half.
City dominated possession and territory but Babina Noko looked a real threat on transition.
Thabo Nodada forced Sekhukhune goalkeeper Toaster Nsabata into a smart save in the 19th minute and moments later Mduduzi Mdantsane, who found a lot of space in and around the penalty area, directed a powerful shot straight into the hands of the Zambian shot-stopper.
Nyiko Mobbie was well-positioned at the back post just after the half-hour mark to keep Suprise Ralani’s attempt from troubling the scorers, and the relentless pressure exerted by City should’ve culminated in a goal in the 37th minute.
Ralani found Mdantsane in acres of space and with a clear sight of goal but he failed to find the target with the back of the net at his mercy.
City were made to rue all these missed chances. Ohizu tested Hugo Marques, who made a good save before the break, but the goalkeeper could do nothing to deny the Nigerian forward five minutes into the second half.
Tlotlo Leepile’s cross-cum-shot found the Citizens defence napping while Ohizu remained alert and the forward duly profited as he finished with aplomb from close range.
This forced City head coach Eric Tinkler’s hand with the former Bafana Bafana international wasting little time to make a catalogue of changes and one of those substitutes, Tashreeq Morris, had a glorious chance to pull the two teams level in the 67th minute.
But despite being unmarked in the area, the towering forward could only succeed in steering his header straight at Nsabata.
City continued to knock on the Babina Noko door and looked sure to level matters when Morris found Khanyisa Mayo, but Nsabata pulled off a game-winning save from point-blank range to seal all three points for the hosts.
Sekhukhune United (0) 1 (Ohizu 50′)
Cape Town City (0) 0
Sekhukhune United: Nsabata; Jampies, Motsepe, Gyimah, Mobbie, Katsande (Matona 64′), Maart (Parusnath 83′), Leepile, Madonsela (Patjie 46′), Mncube (Mahlangu 46′), Ohizu (Sibanyoni 72′).
Cape Town City: Marques; Mashego, Fielies, Mobara, Mkhize (Mayo 85′), Mokeke, Nodada, Ralani (Roberts 75′), Mdantsane (Morris 61′), Ajagun (Makola 74′), Lakay (Martin 62′).© Backpage TXT
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