Durban City’s Betway Premiership encounter at the Orlando Amstel Arena against Orlando Pirates on Thursday night ended in a 2-0 loss.
While the visiting team started strongly, Pirates showed a clinical edge in the second stanza to score twice and secure maximum points.
The Citizens were to enjoy a positive first half, working hard to close down their opponents quickly, while also creating several promising moments in attack.
With just four minutes on the clock, Jean Lwamba won the ball off a defender deep in the Pirates half, the ball breaking for Tylo Sanger, whose shot looked goalbound, only for Sipho Chaine to make a sharp reflex save with his foot.
City continued to play with purpose and another opportunity arose on the half hour mark when Gaston Sirino showed strength and determination on the left hand side of the box to make space for a shot, only to be denied by Chaine at the near post.
A few minutes before the break, the Durban team enjoyed another chance when Lwamba expertly chested down Kyle Jurgens’ floated pass before unleashing a powerful half-volley – which unfortunately did not hit the back of the net as Chaine got his hands up quickly.
City found themselves under pressure after the restart as the Soweto side came out with intensity.
Chances followed for the hosts as Kamogelo Sebelebele burst through the middle of the park in the 49th minute before narrowly dragging a 20-yard shot wide of the left-hand upright.
Moments later the same player found space down the right wing inside the box and drew a sharp near-post save out of Frederick Asare with his low drive.
Seconds later, Pirates threatened again when Kabelo Kgositsile crossed for Yanela Mbuthuma, whose shot was turned off the line by Durban City defender Siyabonga Msomi.
Asare also made a fine fingertip save from a long-range scorcher, but could do little to prevent Bucs from taking the lead in the 58th minute when Lebone Seema powered in a header from Kgositsile’s in-swinging corner.
Ten minutes later the home team added a second when Simphiwe Masilela went on a surging run before slipping in Tshepang Moremi – who curled the ball into the top corner from 18-yards out.
While Durban City grafted hard to try and find a way back, the home side were in confident mood and they were able to see out the match.
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