Cape Town City play to a draw on home turf

Benni: ''I am disappointed in our lack of composure in key elements of the game."

Cape Town City vs Golden Arrows: SuperSport

Cape Town City went to head to head against Golden Arrows on Saturday, August 18 at Cape Town stadium. Unfortunately, it ended on a goalless draw with both sides having to share the spoils. 

The Citizens were looking to keep up their momentum coming off a win against Maritzburg United in the MTN8 quarterfinal but Arrows had other ideas for them. Both sides had some solid moments where the ball could have easily found the back of the net but it Lady Luck wasn't on either side. 

CT City's head coach, Benni McCarthy is not one to mince his words and was quick to the tell the media how the game was more frustrating than disappointing. He believes his side keeps up the momentum very well and creates great chances but reiterated that the main struggle is to find the back of the net - the finishing part of the game. It is about results, after all, no matter how a game is played at times. 

"It was more of a frustrating evening. I think it's evident that we are a team that keeps up very well, we move it around quite nicely, create great chances but the 'almighty of almightys' is putting it at the back of the net. 

"This week I was so confident that this (against Arrows) was a given for us and that we will definitely get the three points because of the finishing and quality in training.

"Today was just the complete opposite that I wasn't used to at least after this week. So yes I am definitely disappointed in our lack of composure in key elements of the game and even towards the end.

McCarthy said Cape Town City's composure was lacking with too many missed chances and he felt like they let the opposition off easily when this could have easily been three points in the bag kind of game. However he was quick to bring in some positivity in that they will be going back to the drawing board to work on their errors and look to score goals.

"Any team that plays against us and gets a chance like that, it goes at the back of the net. It was crying for us to get it at the back numerous times but we just booted over.

"I am a bit disappointed in the composure we have shown and that we let them off the hook because these were the easiest three pointers we could've gotten this far but unfortunately we come away with nothing and get a draw so we will go back and work on whatever needs to be worked on - scoring goals.

Siphelele Mthembu didn't feature in their clash against Golden Arrows due to an injury he picked up against KwaZulu Natal outfit, Maritzburg United. He, however, wasn't able to recover on time and Benni feels like their game would've had a better impact and outcome if Mthembu was in the lineup.

McCarthy sang Matthew Rusike's praises and felt like he did well throughout his game but could've been better if he was at the right place, at the right time.

"I was forced to make some changes because its clearly to say that if Shaka (Siphele Mthembu) was fit today then maybe it could've been a different outlook but he picked up that massive hard tackle in our clash against Maritzburg so he didn't recover on time and we didn't want to force it to try and let him play through it.

"But I think Matthew (Rusike) did exceptionally well except for getting himself into areas where he should be at the end of those things because its all good and well; and what I ask of my strikers is to play in the big box without drifting out wide because you want to be involved with the ball and he was almost like a magnet.

"Where the ball was, he was and then when you get great balls in and our striker is in the wrong place. I think that was the most frustrating part and I think he will be frustrated at the end of the night because of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"And obviously with Keanu (Cupido), I think it was just a tactical setup, being back from injury and he looked well and I was getting a bit tired of using a centre-back in a left-back position because most of the teams have wingers who are quite quick so we can't always get away with it, and this team (Arrows) had the Sibiyas and the Lamolas who were quick and wide.

"He (Keano) was looking good and fit and I thought it is only natural to slot him back into his usual position so we can start forming that partnership with Kwazi and Fielies and having Mkhize there too.

"Unfortunately for the young man, he's done exceptionally well but he has to understand that there are certain tactics for certain games and this was a game that looked for a bit more experience; the experience of Mkhize came through today but the young boy was just unfortunate. It was not because I had a bad game, it was just a tactical change.

"My priority is always a game that we are playing and getting the results. I think if I wasn't forced to make the Surprise (Ralani) change because that buggered me up and I had to improvise and bring on  Norodien where I wanted to wait first because of injury and that gave me two subs.

Throughout the frustration of the game, Benni was forced to make substitutions with Riyaad Norodien coming on for an injured Surprise Ralani, Gift Links replacing Matthew Rusike and Nana Akosah-Bempah coming on for Ayanda Patosi in the last substitution of the evening.

It would have been ideal for Cape Town City if the combination of Craig Martin and Norodien with Gift Links being thrown into the mix and Teko Modise with the flair of experience but according to Benni it wasn't meant to be for his side as they played to a draw.

''As the time went past, they looked like they were waiting to pounce on the counter so if we could hurt them with the speed of Craig (Martin) and Norodien coming in, then bringing on Gift but if it wasn't for the forced change then I probably would've had Teko in there just to give us a little bit more of adapting and giving balls to Patosi but it wasn't meant to be.

"So now we look to see how we can mix things up and get Teko back in there."

Cape Town City will look to redeem themselves when they take on Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday, August 29 in the first leg of the MTN8 semifinals at Cape Town stadium. Kickoff is set for 15:00.

Till next time. . .