It was a heartbreaking Valentine’s Day for TS Galaxy as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Durban City in the Nedbank Cup knockout round at Chatsworth Stadium on Friday.
Heading into the match as clear underdogs, the Motsepe Foundation side, Durban City, shocked their more favored opponents with a determined performance.
From the start, they showed they were not to be underestimated. Menzi Mdwandwe had the first real chance of the match, sending a header just wide of the target, but it was clear from the outset that they weren’t intimidated by their higher-profile rivals.
The game quickly became a gritty, hard-fought affair, with both teams battling for control. Despite the intensity, goal-scoring opportunities were few and far between in the opening half, as the tension built and both sides struggled to break through.
However, the tide turned early in the second half when TS Galaxy took the lead. In the 49th minute, Damir Sovsic delivered a well-timed assist to Dzenan Zajmovic, who made no mistake from close range, calmly finishing past Durban City goalkeeper Ayanda Mtshali.
The Rockets, with their noses in front, looked to seize control, and for a time, it seemed like they might add to their advantage. They created several more opportunities, but their finishing let them down.
As the minutes ticked by, Durban City’s resilience paid off. The underdogs mounted a comeback, and ultimately, they stunned TS Galaxy with two goals to turn the game around, leaving the Rockets with nothing to show for their early promise. With 11 minutes to go, Durban City levelled matters thanks to a counter attack and an excellent strike from Joslin Kamatuka.
The final whistle only signalled a brief break before extra time began for the knockout clash. TS Galaxy pressured, but it would be the Team of Choice that broke hearts.
Falakhe Tshanini provided a lofty cross for Senzo Ndlovu to latch on to and the striker obliged, heading the ball home in the 107th minute. The Durbanites held on for a memorable victory with Mtshali keeping out a last-ditch effort from Samkelo Kabini.