New Durban City head coach Sinethemba Badela delivers three points in convincing win over Polokwane

Bokang Mokwena scored the only goal of the game after 19 minutes while Polokwane were reduced to 10 men when Puleng Tlolane was dismissed with 87 minutes on the clock.

Badela's side dominated large swathes of this tie but it was the visiting team to create the first opening as Banele Mnguni fired wide of the right up-right after picking up a pass from Keorapetse Sebone.

Haashim Domingo placed curling free-kick over the target as the home team started to put more pressure on their opponents.

Sebone then wasted a half-chance to potentially put his side ahead with a snapshot dragged wide of the goal.

Badela's side were certanly the more threatening of the two sides and were a goal to the good when Mokwena rose highest to head home a Saziso Magawana delivery as Rise and Shine failed to clear their lines from a corner.

Saziso Magawana was narrowly wide as Durban looked to extend their lead on the half hour mark, while Brian Bwire got down well to deny Domingo from the edge of the Polokwane City area.

Both Siyabonga Mashini and Banele Mnguni were guilty of wasting the ball in good areas, but it was the home team who ended the half the more comfortable of the two teams.

It was a similar story at the start of the second period as Bwire did well to get down to a 51st minute effort from Kyle Jurgens.

Samkelo Maseko then looked to release Mokwena with a ball over the City defence but his delivery was just overhit.

Mokwena was then wide with an ambitious acrobatic effort, while a super one-two between Maseko and Mokwena almost led to a second goal, but the latter couldn't sort his feet out and stabbed his effort wide.

Bwire had to be quick off his line to deny an ever-lively Mokwena after some more good build up play,

Both sides made a number of changes as the match wore on and Polokwane were starting to control the ball more.

Sabelo Motsa was agonisingly close to an equaliser with a header from a Tlolane cross, while Thabang Matuludi wrapped his boot around a dropping volley as the ball broke to him from a corner but he fired his shot well over the crossbar

Polokwane continued to chase a point and pushed everyone up for an 88th minute free-kick but soon found themselves a man down as Tlolane was forced to hack down Thabo Nodada as he looked to race through on goal.

The red card had a big impact on the final few minutes as Durban were able to regain control of the ball and ultimately see out a comfortable win.

The result sees Badela's team end the evening in sixth place on the standings with 26 points from 16 games.

Phuti Mohafe's men are down in eighth place with 23 points from 15 matches. 

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