Spurs suffer defeat in Middendorp’s debut
Cape Town Spurs fell to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Royal AM in a DStv Premiership match played at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday evening.
The Urban Warriors, in the first game in charge for new coach Ernst Middendorp, were beaten by strikes from Khulekani Shezi and Menzi Masuku. Ashley Cupido scored the home side’s consolation goal.
Spurs suffered an early injury blow when midfielder Colin Ryan was stretchered off and replaced by Morne Nel in just the 12th minute.
The hosts then had a couple of half-chances, before the 29th minute saw a poor back-pass put 17-year-old Luke Baartman in on goal – his low shot had the beating of goalkeeper Hugo Nyame, but rebounded off the base of the upright.
Royal had not offered any major threat in attack, but on 40 minutes they claimed the lead through a fine move which saw Shaune Mogaila cross from the right, Menzi Masuku headed the ball back into the danger area and Khulekani Shezi swept home from close range for 1-0.
Thwihli Thwahla led by a goal at the break, while the start of the second half saw the Urban Warriors make a double change to bring on Luvuyo Phewa and Ashley Cupido.
On 57 minutes they almost drew level via midfielder Keegan Buchanan, who let fly from just outside the penalty area and forced a sharp save from Nyame, and a short while later Cupido put a close range effort just wide after getting on the end of Phewa’s low cross.
Yet Thwihli Thwahla doubled their advantage just after the hour mark when Masuku scored a fine solo goal, running onto Thabo Matlaba’s ball over the top before standing up a defender and curling a shot past the right hand of goalkeeper Sam Ramsbottom.
Mogaila almost made it 3-0 in the 72nd minute when he ran onto Masuku’s clever flick into space, but his shot from a tight angle was blocked by the legs of Ramsbottom.
Spurs pulled a goal back with 15 minutes of regulation time to play when substitute Chumani Butsaka crossed from the left by-line to pick out Cupido, who provided an emphatic volleyed finish to make it 2-1.
The hosts pushed hard for an equaliser in what remained of the game, but were unable to carve out any further chances.
Spurs will return to DStv Premiership action on Tuesday 28 November with a match at home to Stellenbosch FC, while Royal’s next league game is at home to KwaZulu-Natal rivals Richards Bay on Sunday 10 December.
Cape Town Spurs (0) 1 (Cupido 75’)
Royal AM (1) 2 (Shezi 40’, Masuku 61’)
Spurs: Ramsbottom, Bern (Msani 80’), Lukhubeni, Daniels, Dortley, Ralani (Phewa 46’), Ryan (Nel 12’), Buchanan (Butsaka 66’), Moroole, Baartman, Moosa (Cupido 46’)
Royal: Nyame, Shezi, Jiyane, Manganyi, Matlaba, J. Dlamini (Kobedi 83’), Mahlasela (Sithole 90’), Msomi (Magaqa 67’), Mogaila, Masuku (B. Dlamini 90’), George (Machupu 67′)
