It was a point on the road for Durban City FC following a 0-0 Betway Premiership draw with Stellenbosch FC in a tightly-contested encounter at the Danie Craven Stadium on Wednesday night.
In a solid performance from coach Gavin Hunt’s charges, City just failed with the final ball in and around the box, but could not be faulted for the endevour and teamwork.
In a match of few chances on a windy evening, the Cape side had the first opening when Sanele Barns pulled the trigger on a cutback into the box in the 22nd minute, but he was denied by a fine block by City defender Mfanafuthi Mkhize.
The Durban side then began to find some rhythm going forward and had a couple of half chances, one such occasion seeing Letsie Koapeng being tackled by Athenkosi Mcaba just before he was about to pull the trigger on a cross from Haashim Domingo.
At the other end, Barns wasn’t far off when he curled a shot onto the roof of the net five minutes before the interval.
The Citizens started the second half with a great sense of purpose and chances on goal followed accordingly.
The first arrived in the 51st minute, when Koapeng was denied from point-blank range by home keeper Sage Stephens, following Siphamandla Ncanana’s flick towards the back post.
Ten minutes later and Durban City were again on the attack, skipper Ncanana rising majestically in the box to get on the end of a corner, his header flashing wide of the far post.
After that it was the home side’s chance to go on the offensive; City doing well to remain focused and resolute in defence.
The pressure continued to come from the Cape side as the game progressed and with five minutes of regulation time to play, Darren Keet came to the rescue of the KwaZulu-Natal outfit when he came flying off his line to make a crucial block on a goalbound Khomotjo Lekoloane.
There were some nervy late moments for the Citizens as they survived a 93rd minute penalty appeal; the draw probably the least the visiting side deserved for their efforts.
