Cape Town City lost more ground in the race for second place in the DStv Premiership after suffering a 2-0 defeat to Royal AM at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Sunday, March 10.
.gif)
Eric Tinkler's side failed to take advantage of Stellenbosch and SuperSport United dropping points on Saturday, March 9 as they slipped to fifth in the standings, while Thwihli Thwahla moved up to 10th spot courtesy of their second win in three games.
Both teams came into the clash on the back of a defeat last time out, with Royal AM going down 1-0 at Sekhukhune United on March 6 after the Citizens had lost 1-0 at home to local rivals Stellies the previous day, which halted a four-match unbeaten run.
The hosts made four changes as Wandile Mabuza, Ayabulela Maxwele, Sedwyn George and Sabelo Sithole were brought in at the expense of Mxolisi Sikakane, Levy Mashiane, Sphiwe Cele and Menzi Masuku.
Tinkler opted to shake things up even more, leaving out Thami Mkhize, Marc van Heerden, Luyolo Slatsha, Thabiso Kutumela and Heaven Sereetsi in favour of Lorenzo Gordinho, Patrick Fisher, Khanya Leshabela, Thabo Nodada and Jo Paciencia.
John Maduka's side had failed to score in a 2-0 loss to City at the Cape Town Stadium on November 10, but they broke the deadlock on this occasion when George headed past Darren Keet from Kabelo Mahlasela's cross in the 35th minute.
The visitors struggled to get going in Pietermaritzburg and they fell further behind on 58 minutes as Sithole marked his return to the starting line-up with his first goal of the season.
City looked to respond but Khanyisa Mayo was unable to get his header on target after Fisher had picked him out at the back post with a cross in the 72nd minute.
The KZN outfit held on to keep their seventh clean sheet of the campaign and claim their first-ever victory over the Citizens in the top flight.
Royal's next league assignment is away to Stellenbosch on Saturday, March 30, while City host Kaizer Chiefs at the Cape Town Stadium a couple of hours later.
Royal AM (1) 2 (George 35', Sithole 58')
Cape Town City (0) 0
Royal AM: H. Nyame, K. Shezi (M. Thikazi 87'), W. Mabuza, A. Jiyane, T. Matlaba, K. Mahlasela, S. Msomi, A. Maxwele (Z. Mkhize 79'), M. Sera (R. Gamildien 87'), S. George (S. Magaqa 81'), S. Sithole (K. Ndlovu 90+5').
Cape Town City: D. Keet, J. Rhodes, K. Cupido (M. van Heerden 79'), L. Gordinho, P. Fisher, T. Goedeman, K. Leshabela (L. Slatsha 76'), R. Mokhuoane, T. Nodada (T. Kutumela 65'), J. Paciencia (H. Sereetsi 46'), K. Mayo.