Cape Town City made it three successive home victories in the Betway Premiership when they edged out Richards Bay 2-1 at the Athlone Stadium on Friday night.
The victory elevated the Citizens to the fifth spot in the standings and coach Muhsin Ertugral's side will travel to Limpopo to take on Sekhukhune United on 27 January in the Nedbank Cup Last 32 encounter.
This Team! We never stop! 👊🔵 pic.twitter.com/DknOOVfAoj
— Cape Town City FC (@CapeTownCityFC) January 17, 2025
The Natal Rich Boys, on the other hand, remained 14th in the standings after registering their ninth league defeat of the season and the KZN side will host Orlando Pirates in the Nedbank Cup Last 32 match on 26 January.
It took just eight minutes for the Natal Rich Boys to break the deadlock with the Citizens' defence exposed.
Thabani Gumede set up Yanela Mbuthuma who made no mistake as he beat goalkeeper Darren Keet to hand Richards Bay a 1-0 lead.
However, the hosts fought back and they managed to level matters through their French striker Amadou Soukouna who hit the back of the net in the 41st minute and the score was 1-1 during the halftime break following a lively first half in the Mother City.
The Citizens came out fired up in the second half and they managed to take the lead for the first time on the night.
It was Soukouna who made it 2-1 to City as the former Maritzburg United star beat keeper Salim Magoola in the 59th minute.
3 points. 2 goals. 1 Amadou Soukouna.
— Cape Town City FC (@CapeTownCityFC) January 17, 2025
Hang it in the Louvre! 👑 pic.twitter.com/n6kKR7wgPy
The hosts did not sit back and defend after taking the lead as they continued to launch attacks. Shakeel April was unlucky not to extend the Citizens' lead when his deflected effort hit the woodwork in the 76th minute, and ultimately, the match ended in a 2-1 win in favour of City.
City (1) 2 (Soukouna 41', 59')
Richards (1) 1 (Mbuthuma 8')
CITY: Keet, Fisher (Dondolo 86'), Gordinho, Idumba, Nyama, Mokotjo, Nodada, Amato (April 46'), Tjiueza, Soukouna (Rhodes 72'), Ah Shene (Petrus 72').
RICHARDS: Magoola, Mabuya, Ndaba, Allan, Mcineka, Gumede (Mohlamme 89'), Zikhali (Figuareido 70'), Mbuthuma, Mthembu (Radebe 89'), Ntsundwana (Bomela )