Two-goal hero Ayanda Patosi says Cape Town City’s comeback against Orlando Pirates in their 2-2 draw in the Absa Premiership was for coach Benni McCarthy.

The Citizens looked set for their second loss in as many games in the league when goals by Innocent Maela and Augustine Mulenga saw Pirates race into a two-goal lead in the first-half of their clash on Wednesday night.

City, however, had other ideas as they clawed their way back into the game courtesy of individual brilliance by Patosi.

‘It was tough out there. We knew when we came from Cape Town to Orlando, it was going to be tough,’ he said in post-match comments.

‘We didn’t expect to concede the two goals on the set-pieces, but we came into the dressing rooms and the coach pumped us up. We know we have to fight – also because the coach is not here. We have to fight for him [McCarthy] because he is in the hospital and all that.

‘I’m very proud of the boys for the way that they came back and fight.

‘The first goal gave the team the spirit to fight for one more goal, or maybe two. It was a nice goal. When I got to that area, I told myself “I just have to shoot, either left or right”, and luckily enough, it was a goal,’ Patosi said.

‘I [enjoy] taking set-pieces, and I want the ball to go directly towards the goals. Today it went, and I told Shaka [Mthembu] to run to the goalkeeper, and it worked,’ he concluded.

City are tenth spot on the table, with their next encounter being the all-important MTN8 final at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on 29 September with kickoff set for 7pm.

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