Spurs end season on a high with victory over Chiefs
Cape Town Spurs ended their 2023-24 DStv Premiership season on a high, as they claimed a 2-0 win over Kaizer Chiefs at the DHL Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.
Ashley Cupido and Michael Morton scored the goals for the Urban Warriors, who recorded their sixth win of the league season.
Spurs finished bottom of the 16-team log and suffered direct relegation to the Motsepe Foundation Championship, but at least exited the top flight with their heads held high.
Spurs looked the more ambitious and organised team in the opening quarter of the match, though the first clear opening was made by Chiefs on 26 minutes, when Mduduzi Mdantsane’s reverse pass into the box was missed by Christian Saile with only goalkeeper Neil Boshoff to beat.
The visitors appeared to be growing in terms of dominance and attacking pressure, but on 37 minutes Spurs’ Ashley Cupido latched onto a loose ball just outside the edge of the penalty area and unleashed a low drive which beat goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma to put the home side 1-0 up.
The Amakhosi looked for an equaliser before the interval, with Saile getting away a powerful volley from just outside the box in injury time, but Boshoff made a sharp save.
The Urban Warriors immediately went up the other end and almost doubled their advantage, with Asenele Velebayi firing off a left-footed shot which forced a brilliant reaction save from Bvuma.
The Soweto side made three changes at the start of the second half, with Yusuf Maart, Wandile Duba and Mfundo Vilakazi introduced to try and turn the game around.
Yet it was Spurs who again missed a chance to increase their lead when Katlego Maphathe sent an effort wide from a tight angle in the early minutes after the restart, while the midway point of the second half saw the hosts denied a strong shout for a penalty when Cupido appeared to be bundled over in a challenge with Thatayaone Ditlhokwe.
However, the Cape side claimed a deserved second goal in the 74th minute, with Therlo Moosa’s low shot saved by Bvuma, only for veteran Michael Morton to latch onto the loose ball and score his first goal in six years.
Spurs should have added a third goal late on when a slick passing move put substitute Sphesihle Maduna in on goal, but he was denied by Bvuma to keep the score down to 2-0.
Cape Town Spurs (1) 2 (Cupido 37’, Morton 74’)
Kaizer Chiefs 0
Spurs: Boshoff, Nkwali, Gumede, Dortley, Maphathe, Butsaka (Allie 88’), Mokeke (Radiopane 88’), Morton, Cupido (Maduna 76’), Velebayi (Ryan 67’), Moosa (Mfecane 88’)
Chiefs: Bvuma, Jansen, Msimango, Ditlhokwe, Hlanti (Castillo 70’), Mthethwa (Maart 46’), Sithebe, Mdantsane (Duba 46’), Shabalala, Saile (Radebe 70’), Chivaviro (Vilakazi 46’)
