Publications
Partners
Cape Town - Keanu Cupido scored his first goal for Cape Town City to clinch a 1-0 win over Maritzburg United on Sunday in the MTN8 quarter-finals at Harry Gwala Stadium.
Cape Town City sat back in the opening stages of the cup-tie as they looked to absorb early pressure from the hosts.
The Citizens went on to create the better chances and Siphelele Mthembu fired wide of the target from just outside the box on 19 minutes, before the striker wasted another opportunity in the 27th minute when he blasted over with just Richard Ofori to beat.
Fadlu Davids' troops enjoyed a sustained spell of pressure in the final 10 minutes of the first half, but fell behind on the stroke of half-time.
Ofori was partly to blame as he miscued a punch from an out-swinging corner on the right straight to an unmarked Keanu Cupido, who scored with a stooping header from eight yards out at the back post.
Davids introduced Mohau Mokate for the second half and the substitute almost made an immediate impact when he steered an angled header wide of the far post in the opening minute from Deolin Mekoa's in-swinging cross on the right.
Mthembu went close at the other end moments later as he turned his marker just outside the area and drilled a low shot inches past the left post, before Mekoa then had a sniff at goal for the Team of Choice on 53 minutes as he flashed a first-time strike just over the crossbar from 20 yards out.
But a number of feisty challenges led to plenty of stoppages, which incensed both camps and added further spice to the encounter.
Peter Leeuwenburgh preserved the visitors' slim lead with a fantastic save low to his left to keep out Tlou Masegela's firm shot from 20 yards out on 77 minutes, and the Dutch keeper effortlessly plucked Bandile Shandu's fierce strike from range out of the air six minutes later.
Craig Martin threatened to double City's lead five minutes from time when he surged away down the right flank and advanced into the box before forcing Ofori to save his angled drive.
Masegela squandered a promising chance to equalise deep into stoppage as he fizzed an effort high and wide of the near post from 19 yards after good build-up play on the right.
