The Durban City FC team of 2026 wrote their names into the club’s folklore after lifting the 2026 Nedbank Cup, thanks to a 2-1 win over TS Galaxy at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday evening.
The KwaZulu-Natal side showed commendable composure on a wet evening to come back and win the match after having gone behind shortly before the first half interval. In the end, second half goals from Mfanafuthi Mkhize and Jean Lwamba made it an historic occasion for the Citizens.
The opening stages of the game saw Durban City settling into a good rhythm, largely comfortable with proceedings.
It was City who had the first opening of the match, in the sixth minute, Lwamba sending a header over the bar after a cross into the box.
Around midway through the first half, Galaxy began to pose more of a threat and after Victor Letsoalo blazed a shot wide from a tight angle, the team in red-and-black took the lead in the 43rd minute when Seluleko Mahlambi bundled the ball over the line from close range after Darren Keet had kept out the initial header from Letsoalo.
The Citizens came out after the restart showing resolute determination to get themselves back into the contest.
And it didn’t take long for the intensity and effort to pay off as a cleverly-taken quick free-kick saw substitute Luphumlo Sifumba released down the left flank – Sifumba’s low square ball going through to the backpost, where captain and central defender Mfanafuthi Mkhize was on hand to convert with a clinical rising first-time shot into the back of the net. 1-1 after 57 minutes.
The confidence now growing, head coach Pitso Dladla saw his team continuing to push forward for another goal.
And they went on to score what turned out to be the winner in the 71st minute when Lwamba struck with a brilliant effort from the edge of the big box, curling the ball with the outside of his right foot on the half-volley over and around the Galaxy goalkeeper. Sifumba had again been influential, providing the assist after winning a 50-50 ball.
The closing 20 minutes of the game saw Galaxy putting a series of balls into the Durban City box. Some focussed defending however meant there were no scares at the back as the KZN side held on firmly to see out the win and make it a famous day for the club, in their first season in the top-flight.
Leave a Reply