Cape Town City were denied their first victory of the DStv Premiership season after Stellenbosch fought back to earn a 1-1 draw at the DHL Stadium on Saturday evening.
A highly entertaining Cape derby produced a plethora of chances as Darwin Gonzalez gave Eric Tinkler’s side the lead in the 42nd minute, although they weren’t able to hold on after Junior Mendieta equalised for Stellies on 73 minutes.
The Citizens climbed off the foot of the table up one place to 15th, with their local rivals occupying sixth position, four points adrift of the summit.
City were desperate to halt their winless start to the new campaign, while the Maroons sought to extend their eight-match unbeaten run in the league stretching back to April 23.
An action-packed first half saw both teams go close in the opening stages as Antonio Van Wyk struck the crossbar from inside the area on eight minutes before Gonzalez hit the right post from close range at the other end moments later.
Junior Mendieta had also been denied by Darren Keet early on and Sage Stephens was required to save Thamsanqa Mkhize’s shot on 17 minutes as the chances continued to come thick and fast.
Craig Martin tested Stephens with a strike from range on 26 minutes, while Keet dealt with efforts inside the box from Van Wyk, Jayden Adams and Mendieta after the half-hour mark.
The deadlock was eventually broken three minutes before halftime when Gonzalez got on the end of Brice Ambina’s cross and buried his header beyond Stephens to put City in front at the break.
Steve Barker’s troops wasted little time in pushing for a response after the restart as Nhlanhla Mgaga forced Keet into a save with a strike from distance in the 47th minute, although the Citizens weren’t resting on their laurels and Khanyisa Mayo drew a save out of Stephens with a header in the 51st minute.
After a couple of substitutions from both head coaches around the hour mark, the two teams took a short time to settle into their rhythm before Ambina threatened for the hosts with a long-range volley that was saved by Stephens, who also had to be alert to keep out Taahir Goedeman’s header on 71 minutes.
It proved to be a pivotal moment in the derby as the Cape Winelands outfit hit back two minutes later through Mendieta’s header after he connected with Fawaaz Basadien’s cross to beat Keet from close range.
Goedeman tried his luck from range on 79 minutes after being afforded space to shoot, but Stephens was well placed to make a comfortable save.
Mogamad De Goede then passed up a golden opportunity to complete the comeback win for the visitors in the final minute when he failed to beat Keet with a header from Basadien’s cross.
