Cape Town City ended a run of three games without a goal in all competitions after they beat Polokwane City 1-0 at Athlone Stadium on Wednesday night.
Thami Mkhize scored a rare goal for Eric Tinkler's side in the second half to hand them a first win in three top-flight outings and climb up to 10th in the standings, two points outside the top eight.
Victory at home! 🔔#iamCityFC pic.twitter.com/NF5DL3c7XU
— Cape Town City FC (@CapeTownCityFC) November 27, 2024
Rise And Shine suffered back-to-back losses for the first time in 2024-25 to remain unmoved in third position, one point clear of Stellenbosch (4th).
City had only found the back of the net twice in their opening five Betway Premiership matches and they were looking to bounce back from a 3-0 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns.
Polokwane also lost to the Brazilians (2-0) most recently in the league - their second meeting in the space of 10 days after claiming a surprise 1-0 victory at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on 27 October.
The hosts made a bright start and Jaedin Rhodes tested Manuel Sapunga with a volley from distance on 13 minutes before Haashim Domingo forced an even better save out of the Equatorial Guinea goalkeeper two minutes later.
Those were the only real chances created in the first half as the two teams went into the halftime break still deadlocked at 0-0.
City would threaten again early in the second half when Shakeel April's cross fell perfectly for Domingo, who was denied by Sapunga once more on 49 minutes.
Their efforts were finally rewarded seven minutes later as Mkhize lashed the ball home to register his first goal for the club in more than two years.
Mkhize then made a crucial intervention at the other end late on with a last-ditch block to prevent the visitors from equalising in the 86th minute as the Citizens picked up their third win of the season.
Victory at home ✅
— Cape Town City FC (@CapeTownCityFC) November 27, 2024
Three points in the bag ✅
Thami Mkhize with a goal to remember ✅#iamCityFC pic.twitter.com/FbS662BPSn
Cape Town City (0) 1 (Mkhize 56')
Polokwane City 0
Cape Town City: D. Keet, T. Mkhize, A. Ziba, K. Cupido (L. Gordinho 57'), T. Nyama, S. April (A. Soukouna 76'), K. Mokotjo, G. Amato (T. Nodada 76'), J. Rhodes (K. Francis 76'), H. Domingo (L. Slatsha 90'), P. Tjiueza.
Polokwane City: M. Sapunga, T. Matuludi, B. Nikani, L. Nkaki, T. Nkwe, M. Kambala (S. Seabi 70'), N. Maphangule (S. Goovadia 85'), B. Dlamini (R. Daniels 46'), T. Letshedi (C. Alexander 46'), O. Appollis, H. Chauke (S. Tshabalala 70').