Benni McCarthy believes his Cape Town City players showed their PSL title credentials in Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw against reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns.
City came from behind to snatch a point from the Brazilians, having put the disappointment of losing their MTN8 crown at the first hurdle in a shock 2-0 loss to Polokwane on Saturday.
Downs had taken the lead inside eight minutes with a thunderous strike from skipper Hlompho Kekana, but City hit back through Edmilson Dove before wasting a number of good chances to secure all three points.
But McCarthy was pleased with his team for showing the type of grit that suggested they could fulfil his ambition of winning the league this season.
He says: “It is difficult to lift yourself up after such a bad performance [against Polokwane], you know, to go out on the Cup that you’re supposed to defend.
“I asked the boys to pick themselves up and told them ‘there is no better time to play Sundowns than when we are at our worst’, because in those tests champions are made.
“We had to come and show character and we did.
“We had chances, more clear cut chances than them to kill the game. But you know what, if you can come to Atteridgeville and do what we did and get a point. We’ll take it.”