Durban City FC put up a strong showing to run out 3-0 victors over Orbit College FC in a Betway Premiership encounter at the Olympia Stadium in Rustenburg on Wednesday night.
Goals from Thabo Nodada, Samkelo Maseko and Haashim Domingo capped off a dominant performance from the visiting team.
There was some goalmouth action early on, Durban City nearly taking the lead in the fourth minute when a cross from Odwa Nyulu was almost deflected in for an own goal by Orbit defender Yanga Madiba.
Other than that though, Durban City didn’t have much joy in the final third of the field, despite dominating ball possession in the opening stanza.
The next clear opportunity came in the 42nd minute as Nodada got in a shot on goal from the edge of the area, but it flew straight at goalkeeper Sekhoane Moerane.
However, the breakthrough was to come just a minute later thanks to Trevor Mokwena’s determined run – which saw him turning smartly before driving powerfully into the box – where his charge was brought to an end by a trip, a penalty awarded.
Nodada made no mistake from the spot, pinging the ball clinically inside the right-hand upright.
The home side came out with purpose after the restart, Durban City doing well though to keep things tight at the back.
And it didn’t take long for the security of a second goal to come as Samkelo Maseko finished with another clinical effort, slotting a low first-time shot back past the on-rushing keeper, following a wonderful outside-of-the-foot pass from Saziso Magawana in the 55th minute.
Maseko could have added another for City 10 minutes later, but fired over the crossbar from 25-yards out after a well-worked move.
The hosts had a couple of headed attempts on target, nothing to overly trouble Darren Keet though, before City missed another good opportunity to add to their lead after Magawana, clear through on goal, had his shot saved by Moerane.
The third goal did finally arrive as the Citizens wrapped things up in thrilling style with a stunning strike from Domingo, who curled the ball from a central position 25-yards out into the top right-hand corner of the net.
The league will now pause for the Africa Cup of Nations; the Durban side next in action on January 25 – against Polokwane City at the Chatsworth Stadium.
