Darwin Gonzalez nets winner as Cape Town City edge Orlando Pirates

It was Gonzalez who netted the only goal at the same venue against Kaizer Chiefs on Sunday but the Citizens were fortunate against the Buccaneers, who dominated the encounter.

Pirates can only have themselves to blame after squandering numerous good attempts at goal while having most of the ball possession.

The Soweto side came into the contest with a swagger having won three consecutive matches, including a Caf Champions League encounter, and certainly showed confidence on the ball.

The visitors' four attackers, Relebohile Mofokeng, Patrick Maswanganyi, Mohau Nkota and Tshegofatso Mabasa, saw plenty of the ball and looked dangerous in the opening minutes.

Mofokeng had a good opportunity but could only find the side-netting from a tight angle but the closest any anyone came to breaking the deadlock was when Pirates midfielder Thalente Mbatha smashed an effort against the cross-bar.

The home side's first attempt on goal came after 30 minutes when Prins Tjiuleza had long-range effort that went wide.

With his team second best in the first period, City head coach Muhsin Ertugral decided to shake things up at halftime with a double substitution, bringing on Thabo Nodada and Jaeden Rhodes to replace Haashim Domingo and Kamohelo Makotjo.

Pirates continued to look threatening after the interval though and City had goalkeeper Darren Keet to thank for keeping the scoreline at 0-0.

Pirates were given a penalty with 20 minutes remaining when Tshegofatso Nyama was adjudged to have fouled Patrick Maswanganyi, although the decision looked harsh on the defender.

Maswanganyi dusted himself off and stepped up to take the spot-kick, sending the Keet the wrong way but the ball crashed into the post before the keeper gratefully snapped up any danger from the rebound.

That was the catalyst that City needed and just five minutes later they went up the pitch and fashioned a good chance that saw Gonzalez's deflected effort beat Sipho Chaine, who until then had been quiet in the Pirates goal.

With a lead now to protect, the hosts were resolute in defence in the final stages and should have doubled their advantage when, from a counter-attack, Tjiuleza found himself one-on-one with Chaine, but after the rounding the keeper his shot was cleared off the line.

A special mention must be made for City's centre-back pairing of Nathan Fasika and Lorenzo Gordinho who were certainly the standout players for the home side.

The victory means it is consecutive wins for Ertugral since replacing Eric Tinkler as head coach and moves the Citizens up to sixth in the standings.

The loss was a setback for the Buccaneers in the league title race with Sundowns as they remain three points behind the log leaders after both sides have played 11 matches.

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