Benni McCarthy is a happy man after his Cape Town City won a third PSL game in a row.
Tuesday night’s 2-1 win over 10-man Polokwane City at the Old Mokaba Stadium means the eighth-placed Capetonians are seven points off the top of the table.
And after his team secured the three points, Benni says: "Three on the bounce now. Onwards and upwards for us.”
City bossed the game from the off and took the lead in the seventh minute from a well-worked move.
In-form Bafana Bafana midfielder Thabo Nodada was pulling the strings and released winger Surprise Ralani down the left channel with a well-weighted through ball.
IN SUPERB FORM: City yster Thabo Nodada. Photo: CHRIS RICCO/BACKPAGEPIX
Ralani checked his run near the byline as City attackers flooded the hosts’ penalty area and he found Ayanda Patosi free at the far post and the playmaker drilled home left-footed from 12 yards out.
It was just the sort of move that City need to finish more regularly, but they failed to build on that for the rest of the half as Rise and Shine came looking for an equaliser.
Benni’s manne would double their lead just before the hour mark when Nodada found space inside the area to shoot.
But he was denied by the keeper, only for striker Siphelele Mthembu to react first and tap in the rebound.
With a two-goal cushion earned, City would have been forgiven for taking their foot off the pedal when Polokwane skipper Jabulani Maluleke was given his marching orders after a second yellow with 20 minutes to go.
SATISFIED: Benni McCarthy. Photo: CHRIS RICCO/BACKPAGEPIX
That, however, served to fire up the hosts and they gave City a nervy finish after Thami Mkhize gifted Polokwane a penalty in the 82nd minute, which Mohamed Anas scored.
Benni hailed Nodada and his team for seeing out the game.
He says: “We got the chance early on, wonderful play from Nodada and Surprise and a cutback for Patosi.
“I think that gave us a bit of ease. And let them come at us. But we managed the game.
“But I’m happy with the win away from home. We’ve turned the corner with away performances.”