This was a night in which football was the winner as Cape Town City and Orlando Pirates played to a frenetic and absorbing 2-2 draw at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday night.
It’s a result that was probably a reflection of the excitement on offer.
It was a night, especially after the debacle at Loftus last week, that local football fans showed how the game should be supported.
Pirates won the first half, City won the second half… but in truth, on chances, City should have snatched the win as they just failed to take advantage of the chances they had. In the end, on the balance, a draw was fair.
For the rest, it was a case of Lebogang Manyama! To add anything more would be in complete disrespect to what is now, without doubt, the best footballer in the country.
To the selection panel of the PSL, stop the search for Player of the Year right now; you need look no further. Cape Town City’s Manyama is the man, he has no peers.
City were under the cosh from Pirates in the opening 40 minutes, but they hung in there and once they found their rhythm, it was one-way traffic. And in the end, Pirates were probably fortunate to get a point.
City got off to a promising start in the fifth minute when Sibusiso Masina’s attempt was bravely saved by Pirates goalkeeper Brighton Mhlongo – but for the next 35 minutes, the Cape side had to play second fiddle to a rejuvenated, highly motivated Buccaneers team.
Most crucially, Pirates had clearly done their homework. The game plan was to deny City any time on the ball and by means of a high press and a quick close, they were able to thwart the Capetonians from applying their usual swift and efficient counter-attacks.
And, as such, it was no surprise when Luvuyo Memela’s mazy run and cut-back from the right flank in the 22nd minute opened up the opportunity for Dove Wome to tap into an empty net and give Pirates a 1-0 lead.
Wome, the Togolese midfielder recently added to the Soweto team’s squad from SuperSport United, continued to trouble the City defence, and he was unlucky not to score again when he drilled an effort wide in the 38th minute.
But City are not in a lofty log position for nothing, and they gradually worked their way back into it.
Roland Putsche, who scored Cape Town City’s opening goal, and Thamsanqa Gabuza clash at Cape Town Stadium. Photo: Chris Ricco, BackpagePix
They dominated the closing stages of the first 45 minutes and were desperately unfortunate not to equalise when Lehlohonolo Majoro struck the upright just before the referee blew for halftime.
And the Capetonians took that momentum into the second half. If there’s one thing that’s been particularly conspicuous about City’s debut season, it’s the character of the players. They don’t just lie down and die, they’re always up for it; and when the chips are down, rest assured, they’ll come back fighting.
City coach Eric Tinkler changed tactics in the 58th minute, bringing on the physical presence of Judas Moseamedi in place of the industry of Masina, and a like-for-like swop with the introduction of Mpho Matsi for Thato Mokeke.
It paid off immediate dividends as Moseamedi’s aerial ability created an opening for Austrian Roland Putsche, who slammed a vicious half-volley into the net to draw the Cape side level at 1-1.
Tinkler’s men had found their groove and they then duly took the lead when – who else? – Manyama hoofed a delightful shot into the roof of the net. The City skipper has been brilliant all season – and Saturday night was no different.
Pirates, though, aren’t a great club for nothing. And they snatched the point when in the dying seconds, Kensington’s Riyaad Norodien snapped a long-range shot past Shu-aib Walters in the City goal.