Posted in Match Report, News, Team News on Oct 31, 2025.
Durban City (0) 0
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1
(Da Silva 88’)
Betway Premiership
Moses Mabhida stadium, Durban
Flavio Da Sliva scored a late, late winner to give Amakhosi a 1-0 victory over top-flight newcomers, Durban City at a vibrant Moses Mabhida stadium on Friday evening.
The Portuguese striker, on as an 80th minute substitute, leapt like a salmon to meet Gaston Sirino’s cross with a powerful header into the top corner that secured three valuable Betway Premiership points away from home and ended a four-match winless streak. The result moves them up to third in the standings, with 19 points from 10 outings.
The opening exchanges were as frenetic as the electric atmosphere generated by the massive crowd that turned out to watch, with possession changing between the teams with frequent regularity.
Amakhosi looked the sharper, though, and in the 9th minute, Glody Lilepo mishit a shot after being found by a glorious cross-field pass from Mduduzi Shabalala.
As the half progressed, Chiefs gradually pushed City deeper and deeper into their own territory. Sibongiseni Mthethwa found the head of Inacio Miguel with another peach of a diagonal cross but the ball skidded wide of Darren Keet’s post.
Mfundo Vilakazi went close with a low free kick from outside the box after 20 minutes, and the young crowd favourite was involved in some of Chiefs’ most threatening play twice more before the half ended, first playing a tantalising ball in from the left the Keet gathered at the feet of the onrushing Etiosa Ighodaro in the 44th minute. Less than 60 seconds later he had a shot saved that lacked the power to beat Keet, as the teams went into the changerooms with no score on the board.
Much of the second half was fought out in a ferocious midfield tussle with clear chances a rarity as the hosts proved resilient and difficult to break down. Ighodaro almost got through in the 65th minute but Keet was quick off his line to reach the ball first and a minute later, Shabalala cut in from the left and whipped in a goal bound shot that was cleared for a corner.
Lilepo provided a portent of what was to come when he flashed a header jus wide from a Sirino cross in the 71st minute, but it was Flavio who stole the show with a finish that would grace any highlight reel.
Amakhosi will go into next Tuesday’s home game against Orbit College at FNB stadium brimming with confidence.
Line-ups
Kaizer Chiefs: Petersen © (1), Cross (48), McCarthy (35), Miguel (84), Solomons (18) (Monyane (2) 46’), Mthethwa (5), Ngcobo (12) (Cele (21) 63’), Vilakazi (28) (Mmodi (13) 46’), Shabalala (7), Lilepo (99) (Da Silva (77) 80’), Ighodaro (50) (Sirino (10) 68’)
Subs not used: Bvuma (44); Kwinika (4), Maboe (6), Velebayi (17)
Coaches: Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze
Durban City: Keet (1); Nwoburouke (6), Mashego (23), Mkhize (30), Gcaba (4), Jurgens (17), Jodwana (8), Mokwena (15) (Koapeng (19) 76’), Maseko (10) (Maphathe (99) 84’), Nodada (26) (Magawana (11) 83’), Kamatuka (14) (Domingo (7) 61’)
Subs not used: Mtshali (16); Poggenpoel (18), Sifumba (35), Lubumba (20), De Kock (22)
Coach: Gavin Hunt
