Stellenbosch FC moved up to fourth position on the DStv Premiership table this week, after a convincing 3-0 win over Cape Town Spurs at the DHL Stadium on Tuesday night.
Iqraam Rayners opened the scoring in the eighth minute of the match, after capitalising on a mistake made by Luke Baartman in the middle of the park.
Jayden Adams and Darrel Matsheke piled on Spurs' woes in the second half as Stellies marched toward victory.
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Another setback for Cape Town Spurs in their challenging #DStvPrem season ❌ pic.twitter.com/hM5VrT1wdq
The Urban Warriors started as the brighter side at the DHL Stadium, with Luvuyo Phewa and Rushwin Dortley putting the Stellenbosch FC defence on the backfoot.
Both Spurs players had attempts at goal with under five minutes on the clock, however, Stellenbosch sat tight in warding off their attacking advancements.
However, it was Stellenbosch who broke the deadlock in the eighth minute, as Iqraam Rayners got his name on the scoresheet.
The Stellies attacker latched onto a wayward back pass from midfield before finding himself through on goal before expertly slotting the ball into the back of the net.
Half-time buzz🚨
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Stellies are ahead at the break courtesy of Iqraam Rayners' cool finish ⚽
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Despite conceding, Spurs did not hold back with Ashely Cupido producing the best chance of the half for his side. F
ollowing a lobbed effort into the Stellenbosch area, the Urban Warriors striker found himself through on goal, however Oscarine Masuluke did well to anticipate the danger before neutralising the Spurs attack.
In what was a largely even affair throughout the first half, both Spurs and Stellenbosch fought hammer and nail for the ball in the middle of the park.
Spurs ended the half on a positive note and applied themselves well in putting pressure on the Stellenbosch defence.
However, with the end product missing, it was the Winelands side who headed into the break with a goal to the good.
Stellenbosch looked menacing during the opening exchanges of the second 45 and troubled the Spurs defence on a couple of occasions.
The likes of Rayners and Devin Titus found space toward the edge of the Spurs area but were met with aggressive defending by the Urban Warriors.
Spurs created a couple of goal-scoring chances of their own as the hour mark approached, with left-back Siyanda Msani forcing a brilliant save out of Masuluke.
Stellenbosch doubled their advantage in the 63rd minute, as Jayden Adams joined Rayners on the goal scorers list.
With Titus picked out on the right-hand flank, the Stellenbosch midfielder then found Adams with an inch perfect cross into the six-yard box who subsequently guided the ball home with a glancing header.
Following a series of errors on the edge of Spurs’ 18-yard-area, goalkeeper Sam Ramsbottom attempted to find Michael Morton in the middle of the park but was immediately dispossessed by Darrel Matsheke.
With Ramsbottom facing three Stellies attackers, Matsheke intercepted Antonio van Wyk’s clever flick before slotting the ball into an empty net.
Stellenbosch dominated proceedings toward the end of the tie and moved up to fourth place on the log as a result of their win over Spurs.
Cape Town Spurs: (0) 0
Stellenbosch FC: (1) 3 (Rayners 8’, Adams 63’, Matsheke 78’)
Cape Town Spurs: Ramsbottom, Allie, Dortley, Phewa, Lukhubeni (Haukongo 46’), Morton (Buchanan 92’), Moroole (Ralani 46’), Butsaka, Msani (Bern 67’), Cupido, Baartman (Moosa 61’)
Stellenbosch FC: Oscarine, Sibande (Basadien 46’), Mcaba, Toure, van Rooyen, Oura (van Wyk 66’), Matsheke, Adams (Mgaga 66’), Titus (Boji 74’), Rayners, de Jong (Palace 46’)