Durban City FC's Premier Soccer League campaign hit another obstacle with a 2-0 defeat away to Orlando Pirates on Thursday. The result extends a difficult start to the season for the Durban side, who now sit ninth in the table with six points from five games.
Goals in the second half
Orlando Pirates controlled the match from the outset, enjoying 63 percent of possession and creating the clearer chances. The pressure told just before the hour mark when Lebone Seema broke the deadlock in the 57th minute, finishing an assist from Kabelo Kgosietsile. The hosts doubled their lead twelve minutes later as Tshepang Moremi found the net, with Simphiwe Masilela providing the final pass.
Durban City, lining up in a 5-3-2 formation with Khalil Ben Youssef in goal, struggled to build sustained attacks. They managed only six shots all game, half the number of their hosts. The visitors' frustration was evident in a flurry of first-half yellow cards shown to Jean Lwamba, B. Poggenpoel, and K. Jurgens for fouls.
Manager Khalil Ben Youssef made a halftime change, introducing Samkelo Maseko for Gastón Sirino, but the substitutions could not alter the course of the game. The defeat follows a mixed run of form for Durban City, whose recent results include a win over Rukinzo and a draw with Stellenbosch. You can review the full sequence of results on our fixtures page.
The loss leaves Durban City 14 points behind league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns. Attention now turns to a quick turnaround and an away trip to face fifth-placed Milford FC on Saturday, 19 September. The team's current standings position shows the need for points in that fixture to climb the table.
The Premier Soccer League confirmed the 2-0 defeat to Orlando Pirates on September 17. The league's report noted Durban City created early pressure, forcing a save from Pirates goalkeeper Sipho Chaine in their first attack. Manager Khalil Ben Youssef's side also saw Jean Lwamba test Chaine shortly before halftime. The defeat leaves Durban City 11th in the Premier Soccer League with six points from six games. They have scored three goals and conceded four this season.
