Durban City gave as good as they got but were without reward after going down 1-0 to Kaizer Chiefs in a Betway Premiership encounter at the FNB Stadium on Sunday.
The first half was competitive and intense, but remained largely a midfield battle as neither side were able to carve out much in front of goal.
It was the home side who had the first couple of openings, after the 15 minute mark, but there was no real threat for the KwaZulu-Natal club as Wandile Duba flashed a header comfortably wide before Mfanafuthi Mkhize did well to deflect Mduduzi Shabalala’s shot away from goal with his head.
It took until the 25th minute for City to get their first chance on goal, and they weren’t far off as skipper Mkhize powered a header a metre or so over the bar following a pinpoint corner by Saziso Magawana.
It was Amakhosi who ended the first stanza the strongest, the City defence remaining rock-solid however as Brooklyn Poggenpoel blocked a shot from Ashley du Preez before Mkhize did the same on a stinging effort from Lebohang Maboe, while Darren Keet saved comfortably from Shabalala.
The game continued in a similar vein after the interval in Soweto; Chiefs asking the questions, and City having the answers in terms of keeping the defence watertight.
However, with 67 minutes gone, the home side broke the deadlock – after Mfundo Vilakazi squared the ball for Makabi Lilepo, the striker curled the ball just inside the right-hand upright with a powerful shot.
Lilepo nearly doubled the lead three minutes later, failing to hit the target from a tight angle after breaking clear down the right.
City looked to respond and were not far off after a storming run from Emmanuel Jalai ended with his cross going just over the head of the oncoming Jean Lwamba.
The Citizens continued to probe for openings, but found the Amakhosi defence to be in a resolute mood.
A series of added time corners, as well as long throws from Durban City, saw the visitors pushing all the way for an equaliser. But it was not to be their day as the Johannesburg side held on for victory, surviving a last minute goalmouth scramble as well.
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