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Cape Town City scored three goals in 13 minutes to defeat Highlands Park 3-0 Friday and reach the South African FA Cup quarter-finals.
A seesaw struggle for supremacy in an all-Premiership round-of-16 clash took a decisive turn on the hour when Highlands goalkeeper Marlon Heugh committed the first of two blunders.
He failed to hold a shot from outside the box by Kermit Erasmus, a melee ensued and captain Thamsanqa Mkhize slammed the loose ball between the legs of Heugh for the lead.
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The goalkeeper could not be faulted for the second goal at Cape Town Stadium as Craig Martin controlled a dropping ball with his knee before unleashing a thunderbolt into the corner.
Heugh was to blame for the third goal on 73 minutes, though, as he failed to trap a back pass, then slipped while vainly trying to recover and prevent the ball entering the net.
“I hope he can get over those mistakes as Marlon is a good goalkeeper,” said sympathetic Cape Town coach and former South Africa star Benni McCarthy.
“We were off the pace in the first half and I had to give a tongue lashing to several players at half-time.
“I told them what they needed to hear and warned that if there was no improvement and a change of attitude we would lose a match that was there for the taking.
“They played in the second half the way I expected them to perform from the start. There was a sense of urgency and we won a lot of second balls.”
Highlands coach Owen da Gama believed the match officials erred in not awarding his Johannesburg-based side a goal six minutes into the opening half.
“It looked a goal from where I was sitting on the touchline,” he said. “I am not saying we were robbed, just that the correct decision was not made.
Big-screen replays suggested the referee got a marginal decision correct with the whole of the ball not crossing the goalline before it was cleared.
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Although Cape Town had more first-half possession, Highlands created the better chances and were denied twice by the woodwork.
It was a good day for Cape Town clubs with Cape Umoya United eliminating fellow second division outfit Mbombela United 4-2 on penalties after a 0-0 draw following extra time.
The other six round-of-16 ties are scheduled for Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
