Casric Stars fall as focus shifts to securing promotion

Defender Sphamandla Mlilo’s deflection ultimately proved decisive in sending City through to the final, despite Stars finishing the first half on the front foot and forcing a series of crucial defensive actions from their opponents.

They carried that intensity into the second half, but Durban City captain Siphamandla Ncacana organised his backline effectively to keep them at bay. 

"They never had an opportunity where they looked like hurting us, it's the matter of the own goal that won them the game. It's normal and it happens in football so I won't be hard on the players, because if you look, we played five away games and only conceded two goals on our way to the semifinal," said the coach and co-owner.

READ: Durban City lean on experience and unity to secure final spot

Mthombeni believes Durban City’s early approach was to apply pressure from the opening exchanges, but says his team responded well as the match progressed.

Despite the result, he maintains that Stars showed strong character throughout the encounter and feels they created enough to be considered the better side on the day.

Nicknamed “The Believers,” the lower-division outfit enjoyed an impressive Nedbank Cup journey, earning recognition as giant killers after knocking out top-flight sides Orlando Pirates and AmaZulu en route to the semi-finals.

Mthombeni says the cup run has been invaluable in giving his players exposure and experience against higher-level opposition.

The Mpumalanga-based side will remain in KwaZulu-Natal as they turn their attention to the Motsepe Foundation Championship, with a crucial fixture against league leaders Milford FC scheduled for Wednesday, followed by another clash against Midlands Wanderers on Saturday.

With only a narrow gap separating them from the top and just eight matches left in the campaign, the race for automatic promotion and play-off positions is intensifying. Mthombeni says the team’s full focus now shifts back to their league ambitions.

"Between us and Milford there are only two points, and I think we are going to have a better focus now that we are out of the Nedbank Cup.

"We will try to collect as many points as possible in our last eight games to try and secure automatic promotion."