Cape Town City head coach Eric Tinkler has urged his players to learn from their mistakes in a bid to return to winning ways against TS Galaxy in the DStv Premiership on Wednesday evening.
Kick-off is at 7.30pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)
The Citizens find themselves at the wrong end of the table in 14th place after suffering four defeats on the spin to spoil a promising start to the season which saw them win their opening two matches.
Tinkler's side appeared to be heading for their first win in four games when they battled back from an early goal down to take a 2-1 lead against AmaZulu at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday.
However, Sede Dion struck twice in stoppage time to snatch a dramatic victory for Usuthu and Tinkler lamented City's inability to manage the game in the closing stages.
"You can't lose the game the way we did. For me it is unacceptable, but I'm not going to sit here and talk about tactics. There is no point in that, mistakes cost you three points," he said.
"You have to learn from your mistakes and understand the level you are playing at. There is no easy game. Every single match is hard and a fight.
"So, you have to fight for those three points in 90 minutes and we didn't. You have to know how to manage the game and your emotions and we didn't do that, so we were very disappointed."
The Rockets are looking to get back into the top eight after slipping to successive 1-0 defeats against Royal AM and AmaZulu prior to the international break.
Sead Ramovic's side had gone unbeaten in their opening three matches and kept three consecutive clean sheets in the process, but they're just one point better off than City in 10th position ahead of their clash at the Mbombela Stadium.
Ramovic revealed the immediate target for Galaxy is to challenge for a top-half finish in the league, although he has loftier ambitions.
"I want to win; I want to chase because I know I will give everything, and the day will come with God's will only. I want, and I will win... One day, I will win the league," the German declared.
"I will work hard; this is my main goal, but right now, we have to be realistic. It's a top-eight spot, if we reach this, it will be the same as winning the league right now.
"Because it's a new club, everything is new. But my main task, my main goal, the dream for every coach, is to win the league. So, we have to fight, and I know it's the hard work, patience, and knowledge of my past as a player."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
TS GALAXY
Lehlogonolo Mojela: The off-season signing from Casric Stars made his third consecutive start against AmaZulu and was a real handful for the opposition defenders.
Mojela made numerous forward runs and had an opportunity to get his name on the scoresheet in the 34th minute when he was played in on the right, but failed to test the goalkeeper.
CAPE TOWN CITY
Khanyisa Mayo: The 25-year-old striker returned to the starting line-up against Usuthu and immediately repaid Tinkler's faith in him by scoring his first goal of the season with an improvised finish from the edge of the area.
Mayo enjoyed a purple patch at the end of the 2022-23 campaign to finish joint-top scorer in the league with 12 goals and he'll be hoping to kick on now after getting off the mark this term.
