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Citizens close gap on Sundowns

Cape Town - Roland Putsche scored a late winner for Cape Town City who move within one point of Absa Premiership leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, following a narrow 1-0 triumph over Platinum Stars at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Saturday evening.

Dikwena remain in 14th spot, two points above the relegation zone.

The first chance of the match fell to Bongi Ntuli with 10 minutes on the clock. Having pounced on a defensive blunder the burly forward looked sure to score, but he could only succeed in guiding his effort wide of goal with only Sage Stephens to beat.

Sipho Senne then squandered a golden chance for the hosts who pressed forward in search of an early goal.

The Citizens, though, quickly found their rhythm with Nana Akosah-Bempah lively in attack for the visitors.

The forward, who capped 2017 with a memorable goal against Mamelodi Sundowns, guided a rasping effort on target in the 21st minute of the clash; the chance City's first attempt in anger.

Chances would be few and far between for the remainder of the half on a hot night in the North West province, with the scored deadlocked at 0-0 as the teams headed for the tunnel at the break.

Thamsana Mkhize came within inches of opening the scoring six minutes following the interval. The fullback unlucky to see his volley canon off the woodwork with Dino Visser well beaten.

The Citizens continued to look the more threatening with the introduction of Victor Obinna and Bradley Ralani causing Dikwena all sorts of problems.

Ralani, on debut, almost found the back of the net with his first touch in South Africa's top-flight, but Visser was well positioned to keep out the attacker's shot from close range in the 67th minute.

Obinna then went close for Benni McCarthy's troops four minutes later. The Nigeria international's powerful effort whistling inches wide of goal.

The visitors duly opened the scoring in the 82nd minute of the clash as Edmilson Dove teed up Putsche who made no mistake from close range.

City successfully saw out the remainder of the game for a third successive 1-0 win in the league.

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