Durban City ran out 3-1 winners over Mauritius’ AS Port-Louis 2000 in the first leg of their 2026/27 CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round clash, played at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The second leg takes place next Sunday, 25 October, at the Complexe Sportif de Côte d’Or, in Saint-Pierre.
Overall on Sunday, the KwaZulu-Natal side were deserved winners as they played with intent, purpose and sharpness throughout the 90 minutes in Durban.
Durban City were the dominant side in the opening 15 minutes of the contest, spending most of their time in the opposition box, without however creating any clearcut chances.
But that was to change in the 16th minute when Siphamandla Ncanana whipped in a cross from the right which was headed by Jean Lubumba towards Haashim Domingo, who turned sharply before firing in a sweetly struck shot which deflected off a defender and into the back of the net.
City remained on top after the goal and were close to adding a second when a clearance fell to Alou Doumbia, who fired in a brilliant first-time volley from the edge of the area, which drew a superb reflex save from Kenny Alcide in goal for the visitors.
Soon after that, both Domingo and Kyle Jurgens had shots blocked as the Citizens kept the pressure on the Mauritian side.
City remained on top and had another good chance three minutes before half time when Bandile Shandu controlled a pass beautifully before crossing for Lubumba, who failed to find the target at the near post.
The second goal was to materliase just seconds after the restart and was an individual effort as Gaston Sirino disposed a defender on AS Port-Louis 2000’s left, rode a series of challenges as he cut into the box, and then fired past Alcide.
There was however to be a setback for City when the visiting team scored from a rare foray forward – Louis Roussety firing home sharply after the hosts had failed to deal with a cross into the box, with 56 minutes on the clock.
City tried to restore their two goal advantage as Lubumba fired into the side netting, Sirino went fairly close with a chipped effort from 35 metres and then Luphumlo Sifumba just failed to get on the end of Lubumba’s back-heel in the 75th minute.
Lubumba also shot wide after being picked out by Thabo Nodada’s cross in the 80th minute and then seconds later Doumbia headed over the bar after another cross from the right.
City continued to dominate the closing moments of the match and saw a volley rattled against the bar by Fezile Gcaba on 90 minutes.
Just when it seemed the Durban team would have to settle for 2-1, Lubumbashi ran through on goal and put the ball past Alcide before being blocked by the keeper, with a penalty awarded.
Tashreeq Morris was the man to step up, slotting the ball emphatically to the keeper’s left to make it 3-1 deep inside added time.
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