Nedbank Cup quarter-final match report Cape Town City v Mamelodi Sundowns 01 April 2018

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The Brazilians were forceful in attack in the early exchanges, holding the Citizens in their own half.

Benni McCarthy’s charges were playing on the counter-attack and they looked dangerous whenever they went on the break as the Tshwane giants were playing a high line.

Gaston Sirino was unlucky not to score for Pitso Mosimane’s men in the 26th minute after he struck the underside of the crossbar from inside the box following a brilliant run from Khama Billiat.

The match kept swinging from end to end after 35 minutes as the two teams continued matching each other stride for stride.

Sibusiso Vilakazi should have given the visitors the lead eight minutes before the break following a low cross from Tau but his strike hit the bottom of the upright from close range and the sides went into the break goalless.

Tau broke the deadlock eight minutes into the second stanza with a strike from six-yards out after he was sent through by Billiat following a quick counter-attack, 0-1.

Hlompho Kekana doubled the Brazilians’ lead two minutes after the hour with a wonderful low strike from 30-yards that swerved away from City goalkeeper Stephens, 0-2.

Bradley Ralani pulled a goal back for City 20 minutes before time, sneaking his strike home at the near post after a big deflection to beat Masandawana shot-stopper Onyango.

Taariq Fielies made a goal-line clearance in the 72nd minute to deny Tau his second goal for the Brazilians after beating goalkeeper Stephens.

The match was tightly contested with 10 minutes left to play but time was running out for City to force the encounter into extra-time.

Ayanda Patosi came close to finding a equaliser for the hosts three minutes before time with a header at the back post but he could not find the target as the Mother City club ran out of time and crashed out of the competition.