Cape Town - Cape Town City took their chances for once as two fine first-half strikes handed them a 2-0 victory over Chippa United at Athlone Stadium on Friday.

Citizens coach Benni McCarthy cut a frustrating figure after his team's defeat to Baroka FC on Tuesday, which saw them squander numerous opportunities, and they came good in the Mother City.

Ayanda Patosi opened the scoring with a clinical strike from outside the box and Lyle Lakay sealed the win with a stunning free-kick just before half-time.

The visitors made a bright start as they looked to put City under pressure from the get-go. Mark Mayambela created a chance for Paseka Mako in the opening minute with a low cross on the right, but he failed to make contact at the back post.

Mxolisi Macuphu then found space for a shot in the 14th minute that missed to the right of the goal after good link-up play with Mayambela outside the area.

But the Citizens broke the deadlock 11 minutes later having soaked up the early pressure. It was a quality goal from Patosi, who ran onto Thamsanqa Mkhize's cut-back on the right and curled a shot beyond Daniel Akpeyi into the bottom-left corner from 20 yards out.

Sage Stephens was lucky to remain on the pitch five minutes before half-time when he raced out of his goal and caught Mako with a high boot just outside the box. The keeper only received a booking and made a comfortable save from Andile's Mbenyane tame free-kick.

The hosts took a two-goal lead into the break thanks to Lakay's swerving free-kick 25 yards out on the right in stoppage time that wrong-footed Akpeyi and flew into the bottom-left corner.

City started the second half on the front foot as Roland Putsche got up well to direct a header straight at Akpeyi in the 51st minute, before Judas Mosemaedi drew a sharp save out the visiting keeper from 14 yards out after being played in by Teko Modise 10 minutes later, with Patosi firing over on the rebound when they retained possession.

Bradley Ralani wasted a gilt-edged chance to put the game to bed on 64 minutes when he latched onto a ball over the top from Robyn Johannes and curled a shot wide of the far post from an angle on the left eight yards out.

The Chilli Boys enjoyed a dominant spell in the closing stages and Macuphu was inches away from pulling one back in the 80th minute when his header kissed the top of the crossbar from Fares Hachi's free-kick on the left.