Durban, Stellenbosch fire blanks in Chatsworth

Durban City and Stellenbosch FC played out a frustrating 0-0 draw in their Betway Premiership match at the Chatsworth Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Both the Citizens and Stellies had some fine passages of play through the course of the match, but a lack of precision and penetration in the final third ultimately saw the score line remain blank. The result sees Durban rise to sixth place on six points from five matches, while the Western Cape side are up to 10th with five points from as many matches.

City created the majority of chances through the course of the first half, though Stellenbosch should have claimed the lead in the 13th minute when Durban goalkeeper Fredrick Asare dropped a free kick and the ball fell for Lehlogonolo Matlou, but the midfielder volleyed over from the middle of the penalty area.

The hosts kept up their attacking pressure, with the likes of Gaston Sirino and Tylo Sanger proving highly influential. City then had a great chance to claim the lead when they cut through the visiting defence in the 35th minute and Samkelo Mashego chipped an effort beyond onrushing goalkeeper Sage Stephens, but a back-tracking Spiwe Msimango cleared the goal-bound attempt away.

The match was goalless at the interval, and the second half saw both teams tighten up in midfield and defence, with clear chances harder to come by.

The introduction of substitutes around the hour mark helped to shake things up, with the likes of Ethan Brooks and Luphumlo Sifumba shooting off target for the hosts, while Stellenbosch’s Quwan Plaatjies also made an energetic contribution after his arrival.

Another sub, City’s Tashreeq Morris, worked some space inside the penalty area for a shot in the 76th minute, but once again Stellies’ Msimango was in the right place to make a heroic block.

Two minutes later the Western Cape side almost claimed the lead against the run of play when Sinoxolo Kwayiba curled an effort toward the top corner, but Asare made an excellent diving save.

Perhaps the best chance of the match arrived in the 82nd minute when City’s Sifumba crossed from the right to pick out Jean Lwamba for a free header, but the forward failed to hit the target from a few metres out.

Stellenbosch’s next Premiership match is at home to Sekhukhune United on Friday 11 September, while Durban’s next league outing is away to Orlando Pirates on Wednesday 16 September.

DURBAN: Asare, Shandu (Gcaba 83’), Ncanana, Msomi, Mokone, Poggenpoel, Sanger, Maseko (Sifumba 59’), Sirino (Morris 71’), Domingo (Brooks 59’), Lwamba (Nodada 83’)

STELLENBOSCH: Stephens, Nkwali, Vena, Msimango, Ramashu (Butsaka 61’), Matlou, Daniels (Lebitso 61’), Palace, Mashego (Sibande 90+2’), Kwayiba, Grobler (Plaatjies 61’)