Cape Town City’s struggles in the Betway Premiership continued after suffering a 1-0 loss to Richards Bay FC on Friday evening.
Lwandile Mabuya, Somila Ntsundwana and Ntlonelo Bomelo started as the three changes for the hosts after their last match against AmaZulu FC, while Haashim Domingo came in for Amadou Soukouna as the Citizens' sole change after the loss to Sekhukhune United.
The Natal Rich Boys made a promising start in the opening 10 minutes as a header from Bomelo sailed narrowly wide of the upright after some good work by Thulani Gumede.
However, they were forced into a substitution in the closing stages of the first half as Sanele Zulu came on for the injured Nkosikhona Radebe.
City produced a couple of moments of their own after a slow start, through Darwin Gonzalez and Jaedin Rhodes, but Ronnie Gabriel's men were able to keep them at bay.
Bomelo got a chance to make the breakthrough a minute to the half-time break after combining with Gumede, but he sent his effort straight at goalkeeper Darren Keet.
The start of the second half was delayed due to floodlight failure at the stadium, with the visitors refusing to take to the pitch, but it was eventually sorted out and had the match back underway, despite the mini-protest from City.
Richards Bay continued pushing numbers forward and pinned the Citizens, but still failed to get in-behind and cause Keet any sense of danger.
City interim coach Diogo Peral turned to the substitutes' bench midway through the second half with the hope of improving their fortunes, as Kayden Francis and Kamohelo Mokotjo were introduced.
The changes energised the visitors as Rhodes went close to opening the scoring after 70 minutes with a powerful volley that forced goalkeeper Ian Otieno into a superb save at the near post.
However, the Natal Rich Boyz regained momentum and broke the deadlock when Gumede curled the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box after being played in by Wandile Ngema.
City were unable to stage a comeback after a lengthy stoppage time due to a head injury, as the KZN outfit maintained their advantage and picked up a vital win.
Confirmed line-ups:
Richards Bay: Otieno, Allan, Ndaba, Mabua, Mcineka, Mthethwa, Gumede, Zikhali, Mbuthuma, Bomelo, Ntsundwana
Subs: Magoola, Gcaba, Ngema, Kutumela, Mdunge, Macuphu, Zulu, Ndelu, Mhlongo
Cape Town City: Keet, Mkhize, Gordinho, Idumba, Nyama, Petrus, Makaringe, Amato, Domingo, Darwin, Rhodes
Subs: Oliaro, Dondolo, Mokotjo, Nodada, Goedeman, Soukouna, Francis, Serero, Bezuidenhout
