Spurs sink after valiant effort

Cape Town Spurs have been relegated from the Motsepe Foundation Championship on the final day of the season after losing 1-0 to champions Durban City at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Sunday. 

The Urban Warriors fought hard for 90 minutes but could not score against Durban City, who were crowned league champions at full time. They will join Leruma United in the ABC Motsepe League next season. 

In his second start of the season, Luke Baartman almost handed Spurs the opening goal in the eighth minute with a fantastic long range strike, narrowly missing the goal and rattling the crossbar. 

Durban City had a chance to strike first in the 29th min after their corner was cleared by Angus Moss as far as Samkelo Maseko whose shot was almost poked into goal by Mfanafuthi Mkhize but sent right of the post. 

The Urban Warriors could have taken the lead in the 42nd minute as Khaya Mfecane’s cross found Moss open at the near post, but his header did not have enough power to beat Ayanda Mtshali. 

Another headed chance went begging in the 44th minute as Moosa’s header from close range was aimed straight at Mtshali. 

With Spurs unable to convert their chances, Durban City found the back of the net against the run of play after Ruzaigh Gamildien headed home Siyanda Hlangabeza’s cross in the 45th minute. 

Spurs had a chance to level the score in the 58th minute, but Mfecane’s layoff from inside the box was too strong and went past Ebrahim Seedat and Liam Bern at the edge of the area. 

In the 67th minute, Mfecane played in substitute Azola Jakalashe, who could have pulled the ball back for Baartman but went himself and sent his shot wide from the right side of the box. 

The Urban Warriors hit the crossbar again in the 77th minute as substitute Keena Bezuidenhout’s cross found Mfecane in the middle of the box. 

Spurs kept pushing for an equaliser and nearly got it in the 81st minute from a Bezuidenhout header, but he was denied on the line by a great save from Mtshali. 

Cape Town Spurs: (0)

Durban City: (1) (Gamildien 45’)

Cape Town Spurs: N. Boshoff, K. Mfecane, T. Gumede (M. Boji 79’), L. Bern, E. Seedat (K. Bezuidenhout 68’), L, Baartman, D. Claasen, J. Maroole, C. Ryan, A. Moss (A. Jakalashe 46’), T. Moosa 

Durban City: A. Mtshali, K. Maphathe, M. Mkize, S. Ncanana, F. Tshanini, S. Magawana (B. Nkosi 85’), S. Hlangabeza (M. Nene 86’), A. Jodwana, R. Gamildien (L. Phewa 57’), S. Maseko, J. Kamatuka (L. Chonco 85’)