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Cape Town City look for key win over Wits

football17 January 2020 11:08| © Backpage TXT
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Siphelele Mthembu and Thabang Monare © Backpagepix

Cape Town City will chase a key Absa Premiership victory over Bidvest Wits when the teams meet at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.

Kick-off is at 8.15pm CAT.

City have managed just one win from their last eight league matches and suffered a 3-0 loss away to league leaders Kaizer Chiefs in their last outing on 12 January. The Cape side has claimed just 12 points from nine home matches in the 2019-20 season, and sit only one point above the dreaded relegation zone, leaving them in need of a major turnaround in form to avoid being dragged toward the bottom of the log.

"Now we have two home games, I know what we can do,” said City coach Jan Olde Riekerink. “By some phases in the game we really played good football, we had good solutions and I'm happy to be the coach of the guys because they work hard. I have 100 percent no question that, we have to finalise the game and not only play good football.”

Wits extended their unbeaten run in the league to seven matches with a 3-2 home victory over Bloemfontein Celtic on 15 January, with Gift Motupa scoring a late winner. The Clever Boys have claimed 17 points from seven away matches and have yet to taste defeat on the road this season.

“You’ve got to be scoring the chances we had [against Celtic]... my goodness. At least we won the game,” said coach Gavin Hunt, who added: “Three points. Where we’ve been, around the world, camels and back [referencing their trip to North Africa to face Al Nasr in the Caf Confederation Cup last weekend] we’ve done well. Now we have another big game, obviously [Cape Town City] are waiting for us, but we’ll be okay.”

In head-to-head stats, City and Wits have met in seven league matches since the 2016-17 season. Both the Citizens and the Clever Boys have claimed three wins, while one game has been drawn. The Cape side has recorded one draw and two defeats from their three previous home matches in the rivalry.

When the teams met earlier this season, at the Dobsonville Stadium in December 2019, Wits claimed a 2-0 win (their first home triumph in the rivalry) thanks to goals from Terrence Dzvukamanja and Thulani Hlatshwayo.

STAR PLAYERS TO WATCH

Cape Town City

Edmilson – Amid City’s struggles this season, defender Edmilson has been a classy presence at either left-back or centre-back. His composure on the ball and passing out of the back have helped the Cape side to at least try and play progressive football despite their poor form.

Bradley Ralani – With his pace, trickery and directness, Bradley Ralani is a potent attacking weapon for City, and getting him in one-v-one situations will be a part of their game plan for this clash against the Clever Boys on Saturday evening.

Bidvest Wits

Bienvenu Eva Nga – Wits’ new striker made his debut in the midweek 3-2 win over Bloemfontein Celtic. Though he was unable to get his name on the score sheet, the former Costa do Sol attacker showed some fine ability to lead the attack and will be itching to feature again this weekend.

Gift Motupa – A goal-scoring cameo off the bench saw Gift Motupa continue his fine form in midweek. The forward showed great innovation and agility to score an acrobatic winner against Bloemfontein Celtic, and will fancy his chances of more goals against City’s leaky defence.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

ALL LEAGUE RESULTS

Season Result Scorers

2016/17 Wits 2-3 CTC Khumalo, Rodgers; Putsche, Manyama 2
2016/17 CTC 1-1 Wits Gumede; Mahlambi (pen)
2017/18 Wits 0-1 CTC Majoro
2017/18 City 1-2 Wits Martin; Majoro 2
2018/19 City 0-2 Wits Murray 2 (1 pen)
2018/19 Wits 2-3 CTC Hlatshwayo, Motupa (pen); Erasmus, Ralani, Norodien
2019/20 Wits 2-0 CTC Dzvukamanja, Hlatshwayo

LEAGUE RECORD (since 2016/17)

Home

P W D L GF GA

CTC 3 0 1 2 2 5
Wits 4 1 0 3 6 7

Away

P W D L GF GA

CTC 4 3 0 1 7 6
Wits 3 2 1 0 5 2

Total

P W D L GF GA

CTC 7 3 1 3 9 11
Wits 7 3 1 3 11 9

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