Two goals in the final 10 minutes saw Durban City FC eliminated from the Carling Knockout Cup after a 2-0 defeat against Stellenbosch FC at the Chatsworth Stadium on Wednesday evening.
The first half brought little in the way of goal-scoring chances and was mostly an evenly-balanced midfield battle as the two teams pushed and probed without creating any real openings.
Having enjoyed more of the possession in the first stanza without too much to show for it, the Citizens were soon to display their intentions after the restart as Haashim Domingo let rip from 30-yards out with a powerful, dipping shot, which drew a very good diving save from Stellenbosch keeper Nathan Garrow in the 51st minute.
It was then the turn of the visiting side to attack, City doing well to keep them off the score-sheet thanks to a brilliant sliding challenge from Tylo Sanger to deny George Matlou, before Frederick Asare moved smartly off his line to pinch the ball off the feet of Sinoxolo Kwayiba.
The Citizens were close to scoring in the 75th minute when Letsie Koapeng rose high in the box to get on the end of Siphamandla Ncanana’s cross, the header looping onto the roof of the net.
Asare was called into action at the other end soon after, reacting instinctively to save Raoul Daniels’ header, before keeping out the same player with a crucial block after he had sprinted clear down the left flank.
There was however little that Asare could do when Lateef Kazeem whipped in a low cross from the left which was met with a first-time shot into the roof of the net from Kwayiba in the 84th minute.
There was a chance for the Durban side to equalise when Samkelo Maseko picked out Ethan Brooks inside the box with a low cross from the left, but unfortunately the shot flew over the bar. Maseko also spurned an even later opportunity himself when he also fired over the target in injury time. Gcaba then went inches wide with a deflected volley from the edge of the area as City threw everything into attack.
There was to be more late drama as the Cape side swept up field on a blistering counter-attack to add their second goal in the 94th minute through Kwayiba, who slotted home from another Kazeem assist.
Coach Eric Tinkler and his men now turn their attention to Saturday night’s Betway Premiership showdown away at Mamelodi Sundowns.
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