Polokwane City bounced back from their 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Bidvest Wits when they beat Jomo Cosmos 2-1 at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Goals by Esau Kanyenda and Sipho Jembula ensured the hosts claimed the full three points, while Brice Aka netted for the visitors.

The Citizens were out to redeem themselves and managed to grab a lead as early as the first minute when former Ezenkosi forward Kanyenda netted for the hosts with his right foot.

In the sixth minute, City’s Thobani Mncwango tried to put his name on the score sheet but his shot went wide to the left of Sherwyn Naicker’s posts.

Just after 10 minutes into the contest, Jomo Sono’s men pushed forward in search of an equaliser and midfielder Luyolo Nomandela delivered a beautiful corner but goalkeeper George Chigova punched away the danger.

After 30 minutes of action, both sides resorted to fouls and the game lacked spark, however, Cosmos nearly scored with a few minutes left before the teams went to the tunnel.

Striker Charlton Mashumba saw his shot going wide to the left of the woodwork, failing to trouble keeper Chigova and it was 1-0 at the interval in favour of Julio Leal’s City.

As Ezenkosi tried to bounce back with sense of urgency, Mashumba tried a shot at goal from a set piece in the 58th minute, however, Chigova safely held on.

Towards the last 20 minutes of the match, Rise and Shine’s defender Carlington Nyadombo conceded a penalty for a foul on forward Aka, and the Ivory Coastan easily converted from the spot to make it 1-1.

Just after Aka’s goal, Mncwango unleashed a shot in the 70th minute to bring his side back into the lead, but his attempt hit the bar.

Six minutes later, Pentjie Zulu delivered a fantastic cross for Cosmos in search of Mician Mhone but the substitute missed to the left of the target.

In the 80th minute, substitute Sipho Jembula ensured his side went back in the driving seat when he netted with a right foot finish after a great assist from Jabulani Nene.

In the final 10 minutes, the hosts managed to control the game and protected their lead to bag the full three points.

Polokwane City (1) 2 (Kanyenda 1’, Jembula 80’)

Jomo Cosmos (0) 1 (Aka 67’)

Teams:

Polokwane City: Chigova, Barends, Hlongwane, Nyadombo, Tema, Motumi (Nene 34’), Jacobs, Maluleke, Alexander, Mncwango (Tshilo 90’), Kanyenda (Jembula 76’)

Jomo Cosmos: Naicker, Nsabiyumva, Mngomezulu, Monare, Makobela, Lingwati (Zulu 17’), Nomandela (Mhone 68’), Jampies, Mashumba, Aka, M. Sono (Maluleke 67’)