CAPE Town City failed to defend their lead as Motebang Sera of Royal AM FC saved his side a point in the Betway Premiership opener at Harry Gwala Stadium on Saturday. | BackpagePix
ROYAL AM scored an 84th minute equaliser to snatch a 1-1 draw against Cape Town City at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Saturday, in the opening game of the new campaign.
Second-half substitute Motebang Sera emerged from the bench to net the late goal and ensured Thwihli Thwahla secured an important point in what is expected to be a tough season for them.
The City of Choice played host to the first 2024/25 Betway Premiership season as cloudy conditions contributed to perfect scenery in Pietermaritzburg.
The home side produced the first surprise of the new season as club chairperson Andile Mpisane made his first start of the season as head coach John Maduka fielded an attacking-looking line-up.
𝐖![CDATA[]]>𝐫![CDATA[]]>𝐢![CDATA[]]>𝐭![CDATA[]]>𝐢![CDATA[]]>𝐧![CDATA[]]>𝐠 𝐡![CDATA[]]>𝐢![CDATA[]]>𝐬![CDATA[]]>𝐭![CDATA[]]>𝐨![CDATA[]]>𝐫![CDATA[]]>𝐲 𝐢![CDATA[]]>𝐧 𝐁![CDATA[]]>𝐥![CDATA[]]>𝐮![CDATA[]]>𝐞 ⭐️
— Cape Town City FC (@CapeTownCityFC) September 14, 2024
2008-born Emile Witbooi makes history as the youngest player ever to feature in a Cape Town City FC PSL matchday squad #iamCityFC pic.twitter.com/xg2Ov4U0Pg
It came as no surprise when City scored the first goal of the new season through Namibian international Prins Tjiueza in the eighth minute.
City’s fine work from the kick-off saw them reap the benefits as the on-form Jaeden Rhodes played a sublime through-ball before Tjiueza composed himself and fired into the roof of the net.
With the first stanza firmly in their control, City were lucky not to double their scoreline two minutes before the break as Darwin Gonzalez crashed a volley against the upright and almost rounded off a well-orchestrated counter-attack by Eric Tinkler’s men.
It was evident that Maduka would need to make readjustments in search of an equaliser.
Matchday 1️⃣ of 3️⃣0️⃣
— Official PSL (@OfficialPSL) September 14, 2024
The inaugural season of the #BetwayPrem starts with three fixtures headlined by a sold-out match between @_Marumogallants and @KaizerChiefs. pic.twitter.com/fJFLnkHTjf
In the away changeroom, the conversation would have been about preserving and building on what City had achieved in the opening half.
Just as expected, Royal kicked off the last half on the front foot and subbed off Mpisane for striker Motebang Sera and created more chances inside the opponent’s box.
Having lost in Pietermaritzburg in the previous campaign, Tinkler was determined to secure the win this time around as he introduced three substitutes in search of control amid waves of Royal AM attacks.
Off-season arrival Amadou Soukouna, Taahir Goedeman and Luyola Slatsha made their way onto the field for Tjiueza, Mokotjo and Domingo in the 70th minute.
Maduka’s demeanour on the touchline was a reflection of his side’s second-half resurgence as he barked out information. That seemed to spur his side on and the City defence finally broke as Sera acrobatically found the equaliser after a cross from second-half substitute Sanele Radebe.
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