Cape Town City head coach Eric Tinkler has urged his players to learn from their mistakes in a bid to return to winning ways against TS Galaxy in the DStv Premiership on Wednesday evening.
Kick-off is at 7.30pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)
The Citizens find themselves at the wrong end of the table in 14th place after suffering four defeats on the spin to spoil a promising start to the season which saw them win their opening two matches.
Tinkler's side appeared to be heading for their first win in four games when they battled back from an early goal down to take a 2-1 lead against AmaZulu at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday.
However, Sede Dion struck twice in stoppage time to snatch a dramatic victory for Usuthu and Tinkler lamented City's inability to manage the game in the closing stages.
"You can't lose the game the way we did. For me it is unacceptable, but I'm not going to sit here and talk about tactics. There is no point in that, mistakes cost you three points," he said.
"You have to learn from your mistakes and understand the level you are playing at. There is no easy game. Every single match is hard and a fight.
"So, you have to fight for those three points in 90 minutes and we didn't. You have to know how to manage the game and your emotions and we didn't do that, so we were very disappointed."
🚨⚽️ NEXTMATCH! ⚽️🚨
— TS Galaxy FC (@TSGALAXYFC) September 18, 2023
TS Galaxy vs Cape Town City
🗓Date: 20 September 2023
🕑Time: 19:30 pm
🏟Location: Mbombela Stadium @aQuelle @aQuelleViV#Siyadumuza #TheRockets#TSG pic.twitter.com/Z4YZtOxUnv
The Rockets are looking to get back into the top eight after slipping to successive 1-0 defeats against Royal AM and AmaZulu prior to the international break.
Sead Ramovic's side had gone unbeaten in their opening three matches and kept three consecutive clean sheets in the process, but they're just one point better off than City in 10th position ahead of their clash at the Mbombela Stadium.
Ramovic revealed the immediate target for Galaxy is to challenge for a top-half finish in the league, although he has loftier ambitions.
"I want to win; I want to chase because I know I will give everything, and the day will come with God's will only. I want, and I will win... One day, I will win the league," the German declared.
"I will work hard; this is my main goal, but right now, we have to be realistic. It's a top-eight spot, if we reach this, it will be the same as winning the league right now.
"Because it's a new club, everything is new. But my main task, my main goal, the dream for every coach, is to win the league. So, we have to fight, and I know it's the hard work, patience, and knowledge of my past as a player."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
TS GALAXY
Lehlogonolo Mojela: The off-season signing from Casric Stars made his third consecutive start against AmaZulu and was a real handful for the opposition defenders.