Usuthu claim victory over Durban City to secure fourth

AmaZulu ended their 2025/26 Betway Premiership campaign with a tense 1-0 win over Durban City in their final league match at the Chatsworth Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Nkosikhona Radebe’s late effort in Durban saw AmaZulu hold onto fourth position on the log by three points, given fifth-placed Sekhukhune United’s 2-2 draw with Siwelele in the adjacent fixture.

Despite the defeat Durban City managed to secure the coveted eighth position by two points after ninth-placed Stellenbosch could only manage a 0-0 draw with Marumo Gallants this weekend.

The game commenced at a timid pace at the Chatsworth Stadium, and neither side created any goal-scoring opportunities inside the first 10 minutes.

While little separated the two teams leading up to the midway point of the first half, Siphamandla Ncanana tested the AmaZulu goalkeeper with a shot from the centre of the box after applying pressure going forward.

Luphumlo Sifumba came close to giving Durban City the lead in the 26th minute, however, Richard Ofori saved the midfielder’s effort in the middle of the goal.

AmaZulu kicked into gear after the half-hour mark, with attempts by Athini Maqokola and Sphamandla Zikhali going wide of the mark. At the other end of the pitch, Brooklyn Poggenpoel tried a shot from outside the box following a set-piece situation, but his effort went narrowly wide.

Usuthu ended the half on a positive note after a sustained period of pressure inside the Durban City half but were eventually let down by near misses.

Durban City took the game to their counterparts early in the second 45, with Thabo Nodada calling Ofori into action with a right-footed shot inside the area. Falakhe Tshanini and Poggenpoel attempted to open the scoring from range five minutes into the new half, but both efforts were blocked.

The pace of the game slowed down after the hour-mark with neither side finding any luck going forward.

Usuthu opened the scoring 10 minutes from time through Radebe following a fast break toward the Durban City box. The defender found himself in an inviting position to guide home a header toward the left-corner after being picked out by Mondli Mbanjwa with a headed pass inside the box.

Durban City came agonisingly close to scoring an equalizer deep into stoppage time after Siphamandla Ncanana’s headed attempt went narrowly wide following a corner swung in by Hashim Domingo.

Durban City: 0

AmaZulu: (1) 1 (Radebe 81’)

Durban City: Asare (Keet 40’), Falakhe, Mkhize, Ncanana, Jalai (Gcaba 78’), Poggenpoel, Jurgens, Sifumba (Domingo 68’), Nodada, Mahlangu, Lwamba

AmaZulu: Ofori, Allan, Fielies, Mthethwa, Radebe, Zikhali (Hlangabeza 87’), Bern, Hanamub, Maqokola (Mhlongo 91’), Ekstein (Mbanjwa 46’), Matlhoko (Kutumela 78’)