Cape Town City’s final match in the PSL promotion Play-offs ended with a 1-1 draw against Casric Stars on Monday afternoon.
Young goalkeeper Luca Diana-Oliaro started in goal for City, who also gave starts to Luphumlo Sifumba, Jody Ah Shene, Shakeel April.
City, though, hit the ground running in the second minute when Ah Shene stepped in the centre of defence and pounced on a looping ball from Sifumba to finish with ease.
Lorenzo Gordinho looked to double the home side's lead through a surging header from a floated cross, but he disappointingly snapped his lines.
Gordinho was undone at the other end minutes later as Chauke beat him to a loose ball in the attacking-third and raced in to slot through the diving Oliaro.
The Citizens didn’t lose momentum and came close to restoring the lead, with Ah Shene latching on a stray pass to meet a gaping goal, but he couldn’t capitalise.
Casric coach Joseph Mthombeni made a change at the break where Abbey Seseane came on to fill in for Orlando Pirates graduate Augustine Mahlonoko.
As the resumption settled in, the Citizens made substitutions of their own, as Emile Witbooi came on for Sifumba while Luyolo Slatsha replaced Tshegofatso Nyama.
City were buoyant and enjoyed a lot of the ball with Witbooi in particular drawing spaces and running in-between the lines.
Mthombeni’s men got moments in the latter stages as substitute Seseane nearly silencd the venue with a curling attempt from range, but he missed the top corner.
City could’ve snatched victory in the dying minute with a one-on-one from Cee-Jay Bezuidenhout, but he missed target as it finished all square in Cape Town.
Photo by Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images
