Gift Links scored a superb goal as Cape Town City kept up their hot form and piled misery on bottom club Maritzburg United with a 3-2 victory in their Absa Premiership clash in Cape Town yesterday.
Captain Thami Mkhize put City ahead early on but Maritzburg found an equaliser with a rare foray forward just past the hour mark when Mxolisi Kunene netted.
Links showed superb technique to fire his side into the lead, before Riyaad Norodien added a third and the game looked safe.
United set up a grandstand finish though when Fortune Makaringe crashed the ball home with six minutes remaining, though they could not steal a point at the end.
Kermit Erasmus struck the post early on following a fine run into the box, with the rebound eluding the City attackers in the box.
City were dominant in the opening stages and deservedly took the lead after seven minutes when Mkhize turned in a corner with his chest for his third in five games.
City continued to press after the interval, but United found an equaliser out of nothing on 62 minutes with their first shot on goal, Kunene played in behind the defence and slipped the ball past home goalkeeper Peter Leeuwenburgh.
But City regained the lead when Maritzburg coughed up possession in the midfield and Teko Modise set Links on goal, the young winger drilling into the corner.
Substitute Norodien looked to have sealed the points when he saw his deflected shot beat Ofori, but United midfielder Makaringe set up a nervous finish when he crashed the ball home from 10 yards.
Maritzburg defender Rushine de Reuck received a second yellow card deep in injury time, and a fight ensued as he walked down the tunnel with both benches getting involved and forcing a stop in the game before peace was restored.
Cape Town City(1) 3
Maritzburg United (0) 2
GOALS: Cape Town City (Mkhize 7', Links 71', Norodien 82'); Maritzburg United (Kunene 62', Makaringe 84')..