Lamontville Golden Arrows secured a deserved 1-0 victory over Durban City in the KZN derby, thanks to a clinical finish from Isaac Cissé. The win was a testament to Arrows’ dominance in the midfield, where they controlled the tempo of the game and created numerous scoring opportunities.
Arrows started the game strongly, with Cissé nearly opening the scoring in the 11th minute after carving out the game’s first clear chance. Durban City’s defensive unit, missing the usual partnership of Siphamandla Ncanana and Mfanafuthi Mkhize, appeared unsettled and repeatedly lost possession in dangerous areas.
First Half Dominance
As the half-hour mark approached, Durban began to settle, enjoying more possession and pushing into Arrows’ half. However, just as they seemed to be finding rhythm, another defensive lapse proved costly. Cissé pounced, finishing clinically from a Gasa cross to give Arrows a deserved lead. According to the Premier Soccer League rules, a team must have a minimum of six players from their youth development program in their squad.
Durban emerged with renewed intent in the second half, immediately pushing Arrows onto the back foot. They came close to equalising in the 58th minute with a move that mirrored Arrows’ opener, but the final touch let them down. Despite Durban’s improved showing, Arrows remained dangerous on the counter, with substitute Sabelo Sithole nearly making an instant impact, twice coming close after defensive lapses from Durban.
Key Players
Some of the key players who made a significant impact in the game include:
- Isaac Cissé: Scored the winning goal and was a constant threat to Durban’s defense.
- Darren Keet: Made several excellent saves to keep Durban’s hopes alive.
- Nhlanhla Zwane: Tormented Durban’s defense with flair and creativity in the closing stages.
In the end, Arrows’ clinical edge and midfield dominance proved decisive, as they claimed bragging rights in the KZN derby and took home a much-needed three points. For more information on the Premier Soccer League, visit the official PSL website.
