Durban City FC were on the receiving end of a 2-0 defeat to Orlando Pirates in a Betway Premiership encounter at a packed Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
A goal either side of half time saw the Buccaneers claiming maximum points on a windy afternoon in Durban.
It was City who had enjoyed the first chance of the game when Mfanafuthi Mkhize’s header from Haashim Domingo’s corner flew narrowly wide of the right hand upright with only two minutes on the clock.
The home team had another good chance ten minutes later when Jean Lubamba put in a dangerous ball from the left which just eluded Samkelo Maseko in front of goal.
Another opportunity arose when Trevor Mokwena pressed high to win the ball off the Pirates defence before squaring for Lubamba, who under pressure, was unable to get his shot away.
Moment later Pirates were breaking up field, but fortunately for the Durban team, Siphamandla Ncanana was on hand to make a vital intervention on the edge of his own box with a finely-timed tackle.
Pirates made their next chance count as Relebohile Mofokeng crossed for Evidence Makgopa, who took a touch before side-footing past Darren Keet from eight-yards out in the 23rd minute.
The Citizens looked to fight back, but squandered chances from around the edge of the box as Lubumba sent an effort from a tight angle wide, and then Mokwena skied a shot into the stands after shooting from a central position.
The Soweto outfit looked a threat after the restart and it was thanks to a sharp reflex save from Keet on Tshepang Moremi in the 50th minute that the hosts avoided conceding a second.
City did well to regain the impetus, but suffered a setback midway through the second stanza when substitute striker Joslin Kamatuka was forced off with injury after going down under a hefty challenge.
The visitors had the next chance, in the 75th minute, when Oswin Appollis went close with an angled low shot across goal.
Two minutes later and Pirates had their second when some neat interplay resulted in Appollis teeing up Patrick Maswanganyi, who coolly rolled the ball into the far corner of the net.
There was a shot from Kyle Jurgens which forced Bucs keeper Sipho Chaine into a good save 10 minutes from time, but unfortunately any hopes of a comeback was not on the cards, City ending the game with 10 men after an injury time second yellow for Ncanana.
