Cape Town Spurs emerged as 1-0 winners over Casric Stars in their opening PSL promotion/relegation playoffs match at the Solomon Mahlangu Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
As a result, the Urban Warriors started their playoffs campaign with a narrow victory and they will now lock horns with Maritzburg United in Cape Town on 3 June.
Stars, meanwhile, will be looking to bounce back to winning ways when they go head-to-head with 2022-23 DStv Premiership 15th-place finishers Maritzburg in Pietermaritzburg on 31 May.
FULL TIME
— Sahil Ebrahim (@sahil_e) May 28, 2023
A huge result for the Cape Town side as they go top of the playoffs log! Look at what it means to the Cape side's players!
Casric Stars 0-1 Cape Town Spurs#DStvPrem Playoffs pic.twitter.com/ip2nxIEYoh
The Believers started the match brightly and they had a chance to score from a free-kick in the second minute, but Ngoanamello Rammala couldn't keep his attempt on target.
The two teams then struggled to create clear-cut chances as possession was given away cheaply in the final third and the score was 0-0 during the halftime break in KwaMahlanga.
The Urban Warriors were the better side after the restart and they managed to take a 1-0 lead when Ashley Cupido netted his 16th goal of the season in the 67th minute.
Bucs Mthombeni, the Stars head coach, responded by introducing an attack-minded duo of Mpho Khabane and Sipho Zwane in the 74th minute as the home side looked to level matters.
However, the visitors took firm control at the back with the experienced Clayton Daniels and his defence containing Stars, and, ultimately, Spurs claimed a 1-0 win on the day.
Stars 0
Spurs 1 (Cupido 67')
Stars: Baloyi, Gum, Mabote (Seseane 83'), Abubakar (Khabane 74'), Mosadi (Mosadi 74'), Mojela, Mtshweni, Rakwena, Rammala, Mnisi, Thloloe.
Spurs: Vyver, Allie, Daniels, Moroole, Brown, Morton (Phewa 65'), Nel, Velebayi (Butsaka 65'), Dortley, Cupido, Radiopane (Moosa 68').