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Cape Town - Cape Town City head coach Benni McCarthy was left with a bitter-sweet taste in his mouth following the Absa Premiership victory over Mamelodi Sundowns on Tuesday evening.
The Citizens moved into second place after beating the in-form league leaders at Loftus Versveld Stadium after star winger Aubrey Ngoma teed up young striker Nana Akosah-Bempah for the only goal of the game in the 28th minute.
While the shock victory moved the Blue and Gold Army just four points behind 'Downs going into the mid-season break, the injury to Ngoma just before half-time dampened the mood of the former South Africa international striker.
Ngoma, who's been actively pursued by Masandawana over the past 12 months, only recently returned from a long-term knee injury and his absence has been sorely felt with the Cape Town-based side only scoring 17 times in 15 games.
"I have to give credit to my boys for not going into the game already thinking about the holiday. They went out there and they were brave. We knew we were going to have our backs against the wall because Sundowns is a fantastic footballing team," McCarthy told reporters.
"We frustrated them in the areas we wanted. They knew what the game plan was and it worked to the tee. We could have had more than one if we had taken our chances but you can't fault the effort. I have to commend the Sundowns fans for what I'm seeing here.
"What a spectacle of South African football. Now I can happily say a happy Christmas for what we're seeing here today, to them and all the South African fans."
After the win, the 28-year-old Ngoma tweeted the following on his official Twitter account: "Thanks to everyone for the well wishes I'm hoping it's nothing major I'm getting a scan on Thursday to check the severity. Hope to be back very soon."
The reigning Premiership midfielder of the season scored seven goals and registered 17 assists in 35 games across all competitions for the City last season.
