Following their return to top-flight football, Cape Town Spurs suffered a 1-0 loss against TS Galaxy in their first 2023-24 DStv Premiership encounter at the Mbombela stadium on Sunday afternoon.
An 86th-minute own goal by Cohen Stander turned out to be the difference on the day, as Spurs and Galaxy played to a tightly-contested affair in Nelspruit.
The Rockets held most of the ball during the first five minutes as the game kicked off with a timid pace at the Mbombela Stadium. In looking to get into the game, the Urban Warriors attempted to play the ball out from the back but struggled to find their rhythm early on.
With 15 minutes on the clock, the game lacked a cutting edge as both teams struggled to create any notable goal-scoring chances. However, it was TS Galaxy who looked most likely to score during this period after being awarded a couple of set piece opportunities.
Spurs began seeing more of the ball as the 20th minute approached and accumulated crafty passing movements when going forward. However, Galaxy did well to neutralize Shaun Bartlett side’s advancements.
Leading the possession count, the Rockets continued to starve Spurs after 30 minutes on the clock. Zama Dlamini was summoned into action on a couple of occasions while the home team carved out scoring opportunities.
Both sides managed to hit the woodwork in the first half which summed up the tightly contested affair. Nonetheless, the referee called time on the first 45 with score tied at 0-0.
The Rockets started the second half with urgency and were awarded a penalty in the 48th minute, with the referee spotting an infringement in the area that involved Rushwin Dortley blocking a shot inside the danger zone. In stepping up to the spot, Bernard Parker’s effort was saved by Dlamini, who proved to be one of Spurs’ best players on the pitch.
With an hour played in Nelspruit, TS Galaxy remained on the front foot but were met by doggish defending by the traveling outfit.
The Urban Warriors continued to play under pressure as the second half progressed, which prompted Bartlett to make attacking substitutions in the form of Asanele Velebayi and Colin Ryan in the 68th minute.
As the game reached the 80th minute, the Rockets held up to 70 per cent ball possession as their pressure paid off in the 85th minute. With Lindokuhle Mbatha winning a free-kick on the edge of the Spurs’ area, Parker whipped in a ball which was deflected toward goal by Cohen Stander.
TS Galaxy: (0) 1 (Stander OG 86’)
Cape Town Spurs: (0) 0
TS Galaxy: Kolak, Mvelase, Munyai, Mahlangu (Mbatha 61’), Sanoka, Sebelebele, Mbunjana, Mongae (Radebe 61’), Mahlangu, Gabuza, Parker (Hlongwane 90’)
vCape Town Spurs: Dlamini, Dortley, Allie, Daniels, Stander, Moroole, Buchanan (Ryan 68’), Nel (Mfecane 89’), Bern (Velebayi 68’), Butsaka, Moosa (Nell 89’)