Cape Town - Good teams don’t fall apart at the first sight of adversity. Instead, they react positively to prove their quality. Cape Town City, after a heavy 4-0 defeat to Platinum Stars in the week, responded in the appropriate fashion of such a good team in a 1-1 draw with SuperSport United at the Cape Town Stadium on Friday.
Again, everything was against them. After winning the Telkom Knockout by beating SuperSport last week, dragged back into action two days after the final (hence the loss to Platinum), City now had to face an opponent bent on revenge and fresh after being idle in the week. The Pretoria club’s scheduled fixture was postponed because of Mamelodi Sundowns’ participation in the Club World Cup.
All head coach Eric Tinkler, wanted from his team was to demonstrate, in no uncertain terms, that the loss to Platinum was a direct result of fatigue after the cup final, both emotionally and physically. He wanted them to show what they were really capable of. And they definitely gave the coach what he asked for.
“After the Platinum defeat on Tuesday, it was very important that we didn’t lose this game,” said Tinkler. “But, not just that, the performance was even more important. We needed a convincing performance, that was key, and we got that. I thought we should have been one or two goals up at half-time as they didn’t really create anything and we were in control.
“SuperSport started the second half a bit brighter than us and put us under pressure a few times, but I thought we dealt with it well. And then, one mistake, and they score on the counter. But, again, we showed great character to come back and score a late equaliser. I thought we deserved that at least - we certainly didn’t deserve to lose.”
City still lead the PSL standings on 25 points, with SuperSport in second on 22.
There was a palpable hush at the Cape Town Stadium from City’s growing number of followers when SuperSport scored with eight minutes to go. But they needn’t have worried - if there’s one thing about this team it’s that they never give up. There’s an indomitable spirit about the players, and they always display a superb temperament of composure under pressure.
“The good thing about this team is that, even when they go down, they know they can come back and score,” added Tinkler. “There just is that belief and ability in the team. Overall, though, after that heavy loss to Platinum, there was the danger that they could drop their heads. But they didn’t, they gave a positive response, and for that I’m proud of the boys.”
* Ajax Cape Town were back to their best in defeating Bloemfontein Celtic 3-0 at the Dr Molemela Stadium in the Free State yesterday.
After winning three on the trot under new coach Stanley Menzo, the Cape side then produced a lethargic performance during the week. The coach was frustrated and angry after his team lost 2-1 to Highlands Park on Wednesday and demanded an improved showing from his players.
Yesterday, against Celtic, he got the response he wanted. As expected, Ajax youngster Grant Margeman, who made a big impact when coming on as a second half substitute in the defeat to Highlands, was handed his first start. And the 18-year-old from Bonteheuwel certainly didn’t disappoint,
The Cape side took the lead in the 20th minute. And what a fantastic team goal it was.Roscoe Pietersen sparked the move from the back, threading through an excellent pass for Mark Mayambela, whose impudent, audacious back heel created the opening for Margeman. The teenager’s initial shot was saved by Celtic keeper Patrick Tignyemb, but the youngster pounced on the rebound and headed goalwards, where Ndiviwe Mdabuka tapped the ball into an empty net.
Ajax punished Celtic in the 68th minute when Thabo Mosadi’s tricky run and slide-rule pass created the opening for Nxumalo to make the score 2-0, while with three minutes remaining Mosadi lobbed over the keeper for the third.