Durban City FC were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against Golden Arrows at the Chatsworth Stadium on Tuesday night, in a first ever KZN derby in the Betway Premiership between the two sides.
With the home fans in full voice up in the stands, the Citizens made a positive start to the game, looking sharp and focused and up for the derby battle.
A chance duly arrived after only four minutes when Jean Lwamba broke free down the left wing before crossing towards the back post – where he located Samkelo Maseko – whose first-time volley flew into the side-netting.
The opener was not long in coming as Durban City took the lead in the 10th minute after Haashim Domingo’s free kick was deflected in for a headed own goal by Arrows’ Jerome Karelse.
After that, Arrows attempted to play themselves back into the contest, but failed to make inroads against a resolute home defence. Until the 41st minute that is, when some loose play in midfield resulted in Philani Kumalo slipping in Junior Dion, the striker finishing coolly with a dinked effort past the on-rushing Darren Keet.
Durban City looked to reclaim their lead in first half added time, but 1-1 it remained after Lwamba’s sweetly-struck volley from outside the box out on the left was tipped over the bar, before Trevor Mokwena headed wide from the resultant corner.
There was an escape for City a couple of minutes after the break when Kumalo failed to make proper contact on a cross, with the goal at his mercy from only a few meters out.
The pressure continued to come from the home side as Lwamba delivered a dangerous cross which narrowly eluded his team-mates before a succession of corner kicks were earned, none though leading to chances.
Mkhize then came close in the 84th minute when his snap-shot from an acute angle on the left nearly squirmed through the Arrows keeper’s hands. That proved to be the final chance in a high intensity, absorbing KZN derby; City perhaps unfortunate their efforts didn’t bring victory.
Next up for Gavin Hunt and his men are Polokwane City – on Tuesday the 26th of August – 19:30 – at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.
