Durban City defeat Siwelele after slippery Chatsworth Premiership battle
Good form at home for Durban
Durban City's Samkelo Maseko puts pressure on Siwelele goalkeeper Ricardo Goss at Chatsworth Stadium.
Image: Jehran Naidoo / Independent Newspapers
Durban City weathered heavy rain and a determined Siwelele side to secure a hard-fought 2–0 victory at Chatsworth Stadium, with goals from Koapen Letsie and Trevor Mokwena sealing the result. Mokwena also walked away with the Man of the Match award for his performance.
The match began under grey skies, with persistent rain making conditions difficult for both sides. The slippery surface gave the ball extra pace, and Siwelele were the first to adapt.
The early pressure paid off in terms of territory, as Siwelele forced a couple of corners and pinned Durban into their half for much of the opening 10 minutes.
Despite the tricky conditions, Durban City gradually found their rhythm midway through the first half. Midfielders Kyle Jurgens and Haashim Domingo became key figures in the middle of the park, fighting for their side to regain possession and push into Siwelele's half.
Durban City's Trevor Mokwena stands with the man of the match award for his goal against Siwelele at Chatsworth Stadium on Tuesday night. Durban City's Trevor Mokwena stands with the man of the match award for his goal against Siwelele at Chatsworth Stadium on Tuesday night.
Image: Jehran Naidoo
Still, the visitors carved out the better chances, with the Durban goalkeeper called upon to make a sharp save late in the half to keep the game level.
The turning point came just before the break. Against the run of play, Durban pushed forward and Koapen Letsie finished off a well-worked move to give his side a crucial lead heading into the interval.
The goal lifted Durban spirits, while forcing Siwelele to dig deep in search of a response. But if Siwelele had hopes of mounting a comeback, they were quickly dashed after the restart.
Durban struck again within minutes of the second half’s kick-off. A free kick taken by Domingo caused chaos in the box, and Mokwena pounced to slot home from close range.
The 2–0 cushion gave Durban a firm grip on proceedings. With confidence flowing, they controlled the pace of the second half. Jurgens continued to impose himself in midfield, winning duels and dictating the tempo in difficult conditions.
Letsie, the first goal scorer, was later replaced by Joslin Kamatuka, while Mokwena was substituted late on after a strong performance that sealed the victory.
Siwelele pushed for a way back but struggled to adapt once Durban tightened their defensive shape. The slippery surface compounded their frustrations, and with the home side in control, the visitors never truly threatened to overturn the deficit.
At the final whistle, Durban’s resilience and clinical finishing stood out. The 2–0 win was a reward for their grit in trying circumstances, while Siwelele were left to rue their missed chances in the first half.