Spurs end year with defeat

Cape Town Spurs suffered a 4-1 defeat to Richards Bay FC in their final 2020-21 GladAfrica Championship match of the year at Cape Town Stadium on Sunday.

The result leaves the Urban Warriors with a mountain to climb in 2021. Spurs fell to 14th place on the log standings, tied on the same amount of points and level on goal difference with Free State Stars in aftermath of a third straight defeat.

Richards Bay opened the scoring in the 40th minute after another long ball forward caught out the Spurs defence, who had to regroup after Darren Johnson was forced off with an injury moments earlier.

The Urban Warriors came close to levelling matters five minutes after the interval and Kegan Johannes had the goalkeeper beaten with a powerful effort from range but the woodwork game to the visitors’ rescue.

The Natal Rich Boyz pounced on the stroke of good fortune and doubled their lead through Khanyisa Mayo who completed his brace with nine minutes of regulation time remaining. The visitors added a fourth soon after before Spurs were awarded a penalty in stoppage-time following a foul on Johannes.

Lerato Manzini made no mistake from the spot but it proved too little too late for the hosts.

Cape Town Spurs: Johnson (Leaner 35′); Johannes, August, Mukumela, Stander, Khumalo, Sali (Koopstadt 64′), K.Mfecane (Mncwango 64′), Butsaka (Madikane 64′), Cupido, Manzini.

Richards Bay FC XI: Jacobs; Maphathe, Mabua, Zulu, Dube, Mtolo, Mabuya, Bakah, Maphakisa, Sekese, Mayo.

Yellow cards: Khumalo, August.