Goals by Ayanda Patosi, Allan Kateregga and Siphelele Mthembu gave Cape Town City a 3-1 victory against Black Leopards at the Cape Town Stadium, writes MARSHALL GOUTS.

The Citizens went into the clash on the back of a 3-0 thumping against AmaZulu, while Leopards succumbed to a 1-0 loss in their most recent clash against Kaizer Chiefs.

The home side started the brighter of the two teams and should have been ahead as early as the eighth minute when Ayanda Patosi’s inch-perfect cross found Sphelele Mthembu in the area, but the former Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates striker guided his effort straight at the goalkeeper with Allan Kateregga missing the follow up.

City were not to be denied two minutes later when a swift attacking move saw Surprise Ralani find Patosi in the area, who made no mistake from within the area.

The home side were in full control of the game and should have doubled their lead in the 22nd minute but Patosi failed to pull the trigger from within the area, with Leopards striker Mwape Musonda levelling matters from the resultant counter-attack.

Patosi could have been on a hat-trick moments on the half-hour mark when a good patient attacking move saw Ralani cut the ball back into the area, but the former Lokeren midfielder headed his effort over the crossbar.

City deservedly regained the lead moments before half-time when Thabo Nodada found Kateregga in the area with the Ugandan winger making no mistake.

Leopards upped their tempo in search of the equaliser in the second-half, but a mixture of poor decision making and wasteful finishing saw the scoreline remain the same.

City defender Taariq Fielies was fortunate not to conceded a penalty when his poor backpass was almost capitalised on.

Mthembu managed to get his name on the scoresheet late on as he reacted quickest to nod home Roland Putsche’s knock on.

In the end, Benni McCarthy’s side maintained their lead to run out 3-1 victors to record only their third league victory of the campaign.

Photo: Backpagepix