Cape Town City dented Richard Bay’s survival hopes in the DStv Premiership with a 3-1 win at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
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The Citizens secured the victory thanks to goals from Lorenzo Gordinho, Jaedin Rhodes and Thabiso Kutumela, with the result guaranteeing a top-half finish and a place in next season’s MTN8.
As for the Natal Rich Boyz, they remain in the relegation playoff berth and are now three points adrift of third-from-bottom Royal AM, who managed a 0-0 draw against Chippa United.
This means Bay will need to win their final match at home to high-flying Stellenbosch FC next Saturday and hope that Royal are beaten at Moroka Swallows in a concurrent match – this would see them escape the playoffs on goal difference.
City got off to a flying start with a second-minute header from Gordinho, who converted Darwin Gonzalez’s cross.
The hosts dominated the remainder of the first half, but were unable to add to their advantage. However, they only had to wait nine minutes after the restart in the second half to go 2-0 up, as Rhodes fired a left-footed shot beyond the reach of goalkeeper Salim Magoola.
Citizens substitute Thabiso Kutumela wrapped up the game late on when he rounded off a counterattack and turned home Luke Daniels’ assist to make it 3-0.
Bay secured a consolation goal in injury time when substitute Justice Figuareido sent a shot past goalkeeper Darren Keet, completing the scoring at 3-1.
Cape Town City (1) 3 (Gordinho 2’, Rhodes 54’, Kutumela 86’)
Richards Bay (0) 1 (Figuareido 90+2’)
Cape Town City: Keet, Mkhize, Cupido, Gordinho, Van Heerden, Petrus, Gonzalez (Daniels 86’), Goedeman (Slatsha 86’), Sereets (Ahshene 73’), Rhodes (Kutumela 46’), Mayo
Richards Bay: Magoola, Mabuya, Mthethwa, Mcineka, Ndaba, Dlamini, Mthembu (Gumede 46’), Mhlongo, Barns, Ntsundwana (Mbuthuma 66’), Muyaba (Figuareido 66’)