Cape Town City left it late to claim a 1-0 win over Chippa United in a DStv Premiership match played at the Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Abdul Ajagun netted the only goal of the game in the penultimate minute of regulation time, with the result seeing the Citizens rise to eighth place on the log and bounce back from their MTN8 final disappointment this past weekend.

The Chilli Boys, meanwhile, are down in 14th place and just one point above the relegation playoff zone after an eighth match without a win in the league.

City had the first shot in anger, with Abdul Ajagun sending an effort straight at Chippa goalkeeper Ayanda Mtshali in the seventh minute, after good work from youngster Khanyisa Mayo to set up his Nigerian teammate.

The Cape side enjoyed the upper hand in terms of possession and territory through the first half hour, but they struggled to prise open the Chippa defence, with only a couple of glimpses of goal for Tashreeq Morris and Ajagun.

The Chilli Boys took their time to settle into the game and gradually began to offer up some threats of their own, with Thokozani Sekotlong missing out on a great chance to tee up Mogakolodi Ngele as his cross was intercepted by Hugo Marques on 35 minutes.

The half came to a close with the teams locked at 0-0. The restart for the second stanza had City shuffle their pack in attack by withdrawing Mayo and putting on Bradley Ralani from the bench. The hosts soon created a spell of pressure, but Chippa had the first genuine chance of the second half when Siphesihle Mkhize got on the end of a corner kick and headed wide of the target on 65 minutes.

The Citizens had a strong appeal for a penalty turned down on 70 minutes when Ajagun went down under a challenge in the box – this followed the introductions of Mduduzi Mdantsane and Thato Mokeke off the bench to boost the home side’s creativity through the middle of the park.

Ajagun had been a threat throughout the match and he was finally rewarded for his endeavour in the 89th minute, providing a fine finish from inside the box to beat Mtshali and secure all three points for the Cape Town club.

The teams will be back in DStv Premiership action this weekend, with City away to AmaZulu on Saturday 6 November and Chippa hosting Maritzburg United on Sunday 7 November.

Cape Town City (0) 1 (Ajagun 89’)
Chippa United 0

City: Marques, Mkhize, Cupido, Fielies, Edmilson, Makola (Mokeke 65’), Nodada (Roberts 83’), Ajagun, Martin (Mokhuoane 83’), Mayo (Ralani 46’), Morris (Mdantsane 63’)

Chippa: Mtshali, Mdunyelwa, Mthethwa, Pietersen, Hanamub, Lebitso, Mdlinzo (Seabi 90+3’), Mkhize, Ngele (Sangare 73’), M. Maloisane (Ramasimong 74’), Sekotlong (Eva Nga 59’).