Durban City FC put in an outstanding performance at the Intwari Stadium to a record a 2-1 win over Rukinzo FC in a Caf Confederations Cup first round second leg preliminary encounter.
The victory on Sunday means the KwaZulu-Natal side advance to the next round with a 3-1 aggregate scoreline, following their 1-0 win in the first leg last weekend.
Away from home, the first goal was always going to be crucial and City ensured that any nerves were settled as Kyle Jurgens arrived in the box to volley home in fine style from John Mokone’s bouncing cross from the left flank – with only 32 seconds on the clock.
More opportunities arrived for the South African representatives as Jean Lwamba ran onto a through ball and smashed a volley just over the bar from the left hand side of the box on five minutes, before Samkelo Maseko sent a shot from distance over the target as well, in the 10th minute.
At the other end of the field, the first bit of really noteworthy action for Durban City goalkeeper Frederick Asare arrived in the 18th minute, when he did superbly to tip a long-range scorcher from Destin Manirho over the crossbar.
The second goal was to come in the 36th minute, Jurgens the instigator this time as he played in a delightful reverse ball for Maseko, who steadied himself with an assured first touch before placing a perfectly-hit curling effort into the top corner of the net from inside the left hand corner of the big box.
Unfortunately for Maseko, his afternoon was to be cut short by injury just a few minutes later, with Alou Doumbia taking his place.
Moving into the second half and it was Asare who was first called into action, the goalie doing well to touch a lobbed effort over the net.
Not long after, there was a lucky escape for Durban City when Manirho beat the defence and ran through on goal, only to put his attempted lob wide of the target in the 55th minute.
Soon after, City had an opportunity to put a possible seal on things when Alou Doumbia was involved in some lovely build-up play, resulting in him pulling the trigger from 12-yards out, but unfortunately the parting shot was skied.
Several chances followed for the home side as they upped the pressure, including another tester from Manirho in the 78th minute, which saw Asare making an excellent diving save to keep out the stinging 25-yard shot.
Manirho though was in inspired form and finally got his reward when he netted with a blistering shot into the top corner of the net after a cutback from the left, with eight minutes of regulation time to play.
Lwamba spurned an injury time chance to add another goal when he lifted the ball over after going clean through, but it proved inconsequential as the full-time whistle blew soon after.
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