Kaizer Chiefs consolidated their position at the top of the Absa Premiership standings with a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Cape Town City at Newlands Stadium on Tuesday evening.
City broke the deadlock in the fourth minute. Ebrahim Seedat threaded through a ball down the inside left-channel for Kermit Erasmus, who cut inside past Erick Mathoho before beating Daniel Akpeyi at his near post.
Chiefs should have levelled matters in the 12th minute when Reeve Frosler dinked a lovely ball in to the box in between the City centre-backs for Lazarous Kambole, who headed wide from a couple of yards out.
In the 18th minute, City defender Keanu Cupido gave away a free-kick on the edge of the box when he fouled Khama Billiat. Lebogang Manyama stepped up and curled the free-kick just over the bar.
Erasmus came agonisingly close to grabbing his brace in the 25th minute when Mpho Makola delivered a precise cross in to the box and the former Orlando Pirates striker met the header well but was denied by a brilliant save from Akpeyi before Mathoho cleared off the line.
Erasmus was causing Chiefs all sorts of problems and was by far the standout performer on the pitch. Five minutes before half-time, the Citizens striker chested down a diagonal ball with great skill before unleashing a volley on his left foot towards goal but it was well kept out by Akpeyi.
Chiefs had a goal disallowed shortly after half-time for a Billiat handball. There weren’t any clear-cut chances to write home about until the 67th minute when Dumisani Zuma threaded through a ball for Billiat, whose first-time shot on the turn grazed the right-hand upright.
The Amakhosi were a completely different side in the second half, controlling the game and looking dangerous whenever they got forward and deserved their equaliser in the 75th minute. Thami Mhize gave away the free-kick with Manyama’s free-kick finding an unmarked Daniel Cardoso at the back post, who headed home.
Soon after, Tashreeq Morris ran on to a long and drilled a shot towards the bottom right-hand corner which Akpeyi did well to tip around the post.
The Glamour Boys kept exerting all of the pressure and got the second when Bernard Parker swung the ball in to the box and after Nurkovic headed the ball down, it fell kindly to Kearyn Baccus, who produced a composed finish.
Soon after, Nurkovic went on a scintillating individual run and poked the ball just wide of the left-hand upright. With the last kick of the game, Nurkovic had a chance to put the result beyond doubt but his fierce drive was well palmed away by Peter Leeuwenburgh.