DURBAN CITY DEFEATED BY CHIPPA UNITED

Durban City’s trip down the coast to the Buffalo City Stadium ended in a 2-0 Betway Premiership reverse to Chippa United on Saturday afternoon.

The East London side scored either side of half time through Sinoxolo Kwayiba’s brace.

It was Durban City keeper Darren Keet who was first tested as he got behind a rasping drive from Sergio Kammies from the edge of the area in the sixth minute.

At the other end, the KwaZulu-Natal side were close to scoring in the 14th minute when Saziso Magawana’s shot was deflected goalwards and into the path of team-mate Trevor Mokwena, who rose bravely in the box, but was denied by the quick reactions of home keeper Dumisani Msibi.

After Justice Figuareido ballooned a backpost header over the bar for Chippa, the hosts drew first blood when Kwayiba profited from a mistake to put his side ahead in the 32nd minute.

The Citizens found themselves under more pressure, but were able to go into the break a solitary goal down as Keet made a succession of saves, including a sharp reaction stop at the near post to deny Kwayiba, and a full length diving effort to palm away Figuareido’s curler.

Moving into the second stanza and Magawana had an opening on 50 minutes – but from the edge of the big box, he sent a low shot wide of the left-hand upright.

Instead, Durban city suffered the setback of conceding a second goal when Kwayiba once more made the most of some ponderous defending to double Chippa’s advantage on the hour mark.

There was a chance for City to pull one back a couple of minutes later when Haashim Domingo played in Mokwena, but from just inside the box, the striker pushed his shot to the right of goal.

The Citizens continued to look for openings and had the ball in the net in the 70th minute when Ronaldo Maarman got on the end of Letsie Koapeng’s square pass, but the effort was ruled out by the off-side flag.

That proved to be the end of City’s comeback hopes as the visiting defence held firm to see out the win.
The two sides clash again on Friday night at the Chatsworth Stadium in a Nedbank Cup last 32 showdown.