Mayo sinks Chippa United with late winner

Cape Town City closed within a point of the CAF places after they pulled off a dramatic 2-1 win over Chippa United at the Cape Town Stadium on Tuesday night.

Eric Tinkler's side went into the half-time interval a goal to the good courtesy of Thabiso Kutumela's strike in the 38th minute, only for Craig Martin to find a reply for the Chilli Boys on his former stomping ground.

The Citizens would emerge victorious though, as Khanyisa Mayo popped up at the death to snatch all three points that saw them move within a point of Golden Arrows, who lost 1-0 to Royal AM in their concurrent match.

City were seeking their fourth league win on the spin after beating Richards Bay 3-1 in Durban last Sunday, while Chippa looked to go five games unbeaten following their 1-1 draw with AmaZulu in Gqeberha one day previous.

The hosts had slightly more ball possession in the first half and they pushed for an early goal, but Morgan Mammila's side stymied their efforts and went on to create the first real chance of the game in the 33rd minute.

Martin found him through on goal, although Darren Keet was alert to the danger as he raced off his line to deny the midfielder from scoring against his former club.

It was the Citizens who drew first blood five minutes later, however, when Jaedin Rhodes picked out Kutumela inside the box and the striker lashed the ball home to break the deadlock.

One goal down at the break, the Chilli Boys went about searching for a response and they threatened five minutes into the second half as Keet was forced to parry a shot behind superbly for a corner.

Kutumela and Rhodes looked to combine again on 58 minutes as they reversed roles, with the former sending in a dangerous cross that the latter headed over the crossbar.

But the Eastern Cape outfit hit back nine minutes later and it was Martin coming back to haunt City with a well-taken volley that flew past Keet to restore parity.

The Citizens kept battling away as the clock ran down and they were rewarded for their efforts in the final minute when Marc van Heerden delivered a pin-point cross for Mayo to slot into the back of the net to register his filth goal in four games.

Cape Town City (1) 2 (Kutumela 38', Mayo 89')
Chippa United (0) 1 (Martin 67')

Cape Town City: D. Keet, L. Gordinho, K. Cupido, M. van Heerden, J. Rhodes (S. April 86'), T. Goedeman (L. Sifumba 64'), B. Ambina, L. Slatsha (T. Nodada 77'), J. Paciencia (T. Nyama 64'), K. Mayo, T. Kutumela (L. Daniels 86').

Chippa United: L. Kazapua, Z. Mdunyelwa, R. Pietersen, J. Chabalala, M. Modise, S. Kwayiba, G. Mosele, A. Mulenga, A. Konqobe (M. Ndwandwe 46'), C. Martin (K. Francis 84'), R. Maarman (S. Kammies 66').