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Cape Town - Goals from Lebogang Manyama, Roland Putsche, Mpho Matsi and Aubrey Ngoma saw Cape Town City crush Free State Stars 4-1 at the Athlone Stadium on Saturday and secure a place in the final of the Telkom Knockout.
City were the stronger team in the early stages and they were rewarded within the opening 10 minutes when they were granted a penalty by the referee - Stars’ Katlego Mashego was guilty of a clumsy foul on Aubrey Ngoma.
Captain Lebogang Manyama took on the responsibility of the spot kick and easily beat Thela Ngobeni to make it 1-0 to the hosts in the 10th minute.
In the next 20 minutes the Citizens had three great chances to extend their advantage, but Ngobeni produced fantastic saves to deny Sibusiso Masina (twice) and Ngoma, keeping his side in the game despite their seeing very little of the ball.
Yet even the goalkeeper’s excellence could hold City at bay for only so long, with the hosts doubling their lead in the 32nd minute when Roland Putsche scored with a low shot which went in via the inside of the post.
City continued to spurn good attacking chances and they were punished in the 38th minute when Stars pulled a goal back, with Thokozani Sekotlong scoring a superb strike direct from a free kick to reduce the deficit to 2-1.
Ngobeni continued his heroics in the second half, but there was nothing he could do to prevent Mpho Matsi meeting Manyama’s corner kick and easily steering home a shot to make it 3-1 in the 63rd minute.
In the 80th minute the Citizens made it 4-1 when substitute Judas Moseamedi teed up Ngoma to fire home with the right foot from a relatively tight angle, effectively ending any hopes Ea Lla Koto had of coming back into the match.
Things went from bad to worse for Stars when Angelo Kerspuy was shown a straight red card in injury time for throwing an elbow into the midriff of Putsche.
Cape Town City will face either Orlando Pirates or SuperSport United in the 2016 Telkom Knockout final next month.
Teams:
Cape Town City
Walters, Kobola, Mkhize, Adjei, Mokeke, Masina (Mashikinya 77’), Matsi, Putsche, Ngoma (Nodada 84’), Majoro, Manyama (Moseamedi 68’)
Free State Stars
Ngobeni, Mobbie, Mbhele, Nkausu, Thlone, Mashego (Kerspuy 72’), Vilakazi, Dlamini, Ella (Thethani 63’), Sekotlong, Sekola
