Cape Town Spurs kept their hopes to retain their top-flight status alive after beating AmaZulu 3-1 in the DStv Premiership at the Athlone Stadium on Saturday evening.
FULL-TIME Update: @CapeTownSpursFC shock @AmaZuluFootball with a 3:1 win at home. #DStv is Back! pic.twitter.com/33CwJ6OcVt
— Official PSL (@OfficialPSL) February 17, 2024
The first half of the match saw both teams attacking from all ends, producing a number of opportunities on goal.
AmaZulu seemed to be in cruise control in the beginning of the match and calmly kept possession.
The 11th minute saw a twist of events when Cape Town Spurs were awarded a free kick just outside the box, as players had penalty claims.
The tackle from Ramahlwe Mphahlele saw him booked and the free kick that was taken by Luvuyo Phewa hit the crossbar.
The rebound came into the path of new Urban Warriors captain Chumani Butsaka, who finished and scored his first goal of the season in the 15th minute.
The goal gave Cape Town Spurs confidence and they continued to counter attack.
The energy from Spurs put the AmaZulu defence under pressure and eventually Abbubaker Mobara was booked for a dangerous tackle on the opposition.
The booking put two Usuthu defenders on thin ice as the momentum kept building.
CUPIDO HITS THE TARGET
In the 31st minute, Mobara redeemed himself by equalising from a well-worked effort from AmaZulu as Hendrick Ekstein was instrumental in getting the ball onto his teammate’s path.
Trouble brewed for Usuthu once again when Celimpilo Ngema brought down Butsaka in the box, forcing the referee to award a penalty.
Boitumelo Radiopane, who made his return to the pitch after being out of action due to breaking his foot in the 2023 promotion playoffs, was given the responsibility of taking the spot kick.
Olwethu Mzimela saved the effort in the 39th minute and Cape Town Spurs missed the chance to go ahead again.
Just before the closing of the first half, Taariq Fielies headed towards the goal but hit the woodwork and the scoreline was 1-1 at the halftime.
Both teams started off the second half with the same hunger to score and Cape Town Spurs made a double-change for fresh legs.
It paid off for them as Ashley Cupido would regain the lead for Cape Town Spurs in the 55th minute, finishing from close range after receiving an assist from Phewa.
AmaZulu continued to generate opportunities to score but it was not to be, even with a higher passing accuracy and more possession.
The final nail in the coffin came in the 84th minute, as Cupido completed his brace and put the hosts two goals ahead with little time for Usuthu to recover.
The win for Cape Town Spurs was their second of the season in the DStv Premiership and there’s still much work to be done to escape last place in the league.
Thank you to all of our travelling fans for your support today! #FanAreTheTeam đŸ’™ pic.twitter.com/pmvmbFuogN
— Cape Town City FC (@CapeTownCityFC) February 17, 2024
Cape Town Spurs 3 (1) (Butsaka 15’, Cupido 55’ 84’)
AmaZulu 1 (1) (Mobara 31’)
Cape Town Spurs: N. Boshoff, S. Nkwali, R. De Goede, L. Haukongo (R. Dortley 90'), G. Michael, K. Maphathe (M. Morton 46’), C. Butsaka, (B. Ralani 80’) L. Bern, A. Velebayi (J. Moroole 69’), L. Phewa, B. Radiopane (A. Cupido 46’)
AmaZulu: O. Mzimela, S. Ngobeni (A. Mulenga 69’), T. Fielies, R. Mphahlele (G. Maluleka 90'), A. Mobara, W. Jooste (V. Letsoalo 90'), M. Mbanjwa, B. Motshwari (T. Moremi 69’), C. Ngema, A. Chidi Kwem, H. Ekstein