An 88th minute goal broke the hearts of Durban City supporters as the home side lost 1-0 to Kaizer Chiefs at an electric Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday night.
In a Betway Premiership encounter full of passion and endeavour but without too many clear-cut chances, Flávio Silva’s clinical header in the dying minutes proved the difference.
The excitement in the packed stands at kick off translated into a rivetting start with both teams looking sharp and up for the battle.
It was the visitors who had the first opening of the night when Makabi Lilepo raced clear down the left wing in the ninth minute, but there was no threat to goal as his shot-cum-cross went harmlessly wide.
Durban City had their first chance four minutes later when Mfanafuthi Mkhize latched onto a clearance from the Chiefs defence, firing a half volley from the edge of the area not far over the target.
The hosts had a couple more moments of promise, but there was no end product as Samkelo Maseko failed to make decisive contact after a swift attack down the right, before Joslin Kamatuka sent a snap-shot from 20-yards out veering away from goal.
More opportunities – without any real threat on goal – followed at both ends, as Mfundo Vilakazi fired in a shot which was comfortably dealt with by Darren Keet, while for City, Trevor Mokwena was denied by a brave point-blank save from Brandon Petersen before Athini Jodwana missed with a long-range effort just before the interval.
The second half went the same way as the first – the contest always on edge as the two sides kept up the high intensity – the energy matched by the buzz from the spectators in the stands.
Around the midway point there were a couple of opportunities for Amakhosi which saw Keet reacting sharply to rush off his line and deny Mduduzi Shabalala, before captain Mkhize made a fantastic goal-line clearance with his head after Shabalala had cut inside and released the trigger.
Then, in the 82nd minute it looked as if Citizens coach Gavin Hunt had worked a treat with his substitutions as Katlego Maphathe’s first-time cross picked out Saziso Magawana – who converted clinically from close-range; only for celebrations to be cut short by the off-side flag.
And then rather cruelly, Chiefs struck soon after as Silva arrowed a thumping header into the top corner of the net following Gaston Sirino’s pin-point cross.
City fought hard to try salvage something from the game, but weren’t able to create any real chances in the closing minutes of the game as the Soweto side held on for victory.
