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Silva strikes late to down Citizens

football31 October 2025 20:20| © Backpage TXT
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Kaizer Chiefs recorded their first win in five Betway Premiership outings after they struck at the death to beat Durban City 1-0 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday.

Flavio Silva stepped off the bench to head home in the 88th minute as the Glamour Boys halted a four-game winless run to move up to third place in the standings, one point ahead of arch-rivals Orlando Pirates, who face Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday, 1 November.

Gavin Hunt's side have now suffered back-to-back defeats and they remain tied with Polokwane City (6th) and AmaZulu (7th) on 15 points in fifth position.

Both teams were looking to get back on the winning trail, with City having lost 1-0 to Usuthu on 18 October, while Chiefs had to settle for a 0-0 draw against Siwelele four days later.

Amakhosi bossed possession in the first half and had slightly more shots at goal, but they didn't really trouble Darren Keet.

The hosts threatened first when Mfanafuthi Mkhize controlled Kyle Jurgens's ball into the box and fired over on the half-volley in the 13th minute.

Mfundo Vilakazi then failed to hit the target from a free-kick on 21 minutes after he was fouled outside the area in a dangerous position and Joslin Kamatuka should perhaps have done better at the other end 13 minutes later as he sent a volley off target after pouncing on a loose ball.

It remained goalless at the break, but the Citizens started brightly in the second half in a bid to make the breakthrough, with Fezile Gcaba shooting wide at the back post on 52 minutes before Trevor Mokwena also failed to test Brandon Petersen from inside the box two minutes later following good work from Jurgens to set him up.

The Soweto giants continued to see far more of the ball and they went close to the opener on 71 minutes when Makabi Lilepo steered a header inches over the crossbar from Gaston Sirino's fine cross, although they survived a scare four minutes from time after City had a potential winner ruled out for offside.

The near-goal jolted them into action and substitute Silva scored at the other end just two minutes later with a header after getting on the end of another superb Sirino cross.

Durban City 0

Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1 (Silva 88')

Durban City: D. Keet, F. Gcaba, C. Nwoburuoke, M. Mkhize, T. Mashego, B. Mokwena (L. Koapeng 76'), A. Jodwana, K. Jurgens, T. Nodada (S. Magawana 83'), J. Kamatuka (H. Domingo 61'), S. Maseko (K. Maphathe 84').

Kaizer Chiefs: B. Petersen, D. Solomons (T. Monyane 46'), I. Miguel, A. McCarthy, B. Cross, N. Ngcobo (T. Cele 63'), S. Mthethwa, M. Vilakazi (P. Mmodi 46'), M. Shabalala, M. Lilepo (F. Silva 80'), E. Ighodaro (G. Sirino 68').

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