Durban City were on the wrong end of a 2-0 scoreline against Sekhukhune United in a Betway Premiership match at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday night.
Having started the game positively, Durban City had a fifth minute opening when Jean Lubamba reacted quickly to an error in the home defence – but he was denied by some good reflexes from Sekhukhune keeper Manuel Sapunga.
The Citizens suffered a 10th minute setback when Bradley Grobler put the Limpopo side ahead; things getting worse just three minutes later when Thabang Monare pounced on a loose ball to score from close range after Ngoanamello Rammala’s initial shot had been blocked by Darren Keet.
There was a good response from City, and chances on goal followed for the visiting team. Yet the 2-0 deficit remained as Samkelo Maseko had a shot from a tight angle saved after beating his man down the right flank, before Lubamba shot wide after a combination with Maseko.
Two minutes before the break Maseko did well to get clear down the wing, going past several opponents, but was unable to pick out a team-mate with the cutback.
The home side were on the offensive after the restart, although a combination of some shots going wide, a couple of saves from Keet, and an excellent block from Siphamandla Ncanana kept the scoreline unchanged.
City upped their efforts as the game went into the final stages and almost pulled a goal back on 77 minutes when Katlego Maphathe threaded a great pass through for Maseko, who reacted sharply to get a shot away – only to find the side netting.
The KwaZulu-Natal side continued to work hard to get back into the game and were unlucky not to score five minutes later when Brooklyn Poggenpoel hit the outside of the post with a crisply struck shot after picking up a loose ball on the edge of the area.
There was to be no reward to City’s late push as Sekhukhune remained well organised at the back to see out the win.
