Lantshene Phalane’s spectacular free kick helped Royal AM beat Cape Town City 2-1 to claim a spot in the Nedbank Cup last 16 at the Chatsworth Stadium in Durban yesterday.
Phalane’s winner was a deserved reward for Royal who dominated this match and could have won with a better margin if they were more clinical in front of goal.
Royal coach John Maduka would nevertheless be happy that his team made it into the next round having dominated their visitors.
Despite the searing heat, the match started with breathtaking pace with the home team, Royal, making inroads into the visitors’ half. It was unlucky not to take the lead in the 7th minute via their leading goal scorer Victor Letsoalo, whose acrobatic kick went narrowly wide.
It was just a minute after Letsoalo’s spectacular miss that City took an unlikely lead.
City skipper Thamsanqa Mkhize found himself with acres of space down the right flank and made a good cross to striker Khanyiso Mayo, who needed one touch to control and fire the ball home after he too had no Royal defender closing him down on the opposite side.
Royal AM could have won with a better margin if they were more clinical in front of goal
Tashreeq Morris should have extended City’s lead in the 15th minute but composure let him down as he rushed his shot when the home defence was again caught out of position.
Mayo’s solitary goal was the only action in the opening half that ended with Royal bombarding Hugo Marques’s goal with a number of pot shots with none hitting the back of the net.
Royal’s pressure finally paid off just four minutes after the restart, with City’s midfielder Relebogile Mokhouane forced to turn Kabelo Mahlasela’s cross into his own net after another enterprising build-up by the home team.
After getting the equaliser, Maduka’s team continued to push for more goals and duly took the lead with Phalane’s delightful free-kick, which beat Marques from just outside the area in the 53rd minute.
Royal and City were among the busiest PSL sides in the January transfer window, with the Durban side signing five players and releasing 15 while City brought in four new faces.
City coach Eric Tinkler didn’t include any of the new signings in his match day squad in Durban yesterday, but Maduka started with at least one new signing, Thabo Matlaba from Swallows FC, while he kept speedy winger Shaune Mogaila, signed from TS Galaxy, among the substitutes.
Playing without suspended influential midfielders Thabo Nodada and Mpho Makola, Tinkler’s team struggled to create clear cut chances in this match. Often Thabo Mokeke struggled to carry the team and, as he ran out of gas, Tinkler pulled him off in the 73rd minute for Keanu Cupido.
The victory was sweet revenge for Royal after City beat them 2-1 at the same stadium in August in what was a DStv Premiership tie and first clash between these sides.
Royal AM (0) 2
Cape Town City (1) 1
Scorers: Royal – Relebogile Mokhouane (own goal, 49m); Lantshene Phalane (53m)
City – Khanyiso Mayo (8m)
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.