Durban City FC are now one match away from reaching the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup following their 3-1 victory over Mauritian side AS Port Louis 2000 [ASPL 2000] in the tournament’s second preliminary round, first-leg tie on Sunday afternoon.
The Citizens and ASPL 2000 met at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. FARPost outlines four key takeaways from the clash in KwaZulu-Natal.
1. ERIC TINKLER MAINTAINS CITY’S WINNING CAF RUN
Durban City head coach Eric Tinkler picked up where Khalil Ben Youssef left off, guiding the KZN outfit to a crucial first-leg win in the second preliminary round of the continental tournament.
Speaking ahead of the clash, Tinkler emphasised the importance of reaching the group phase as they look to build momentum on the continent.
“Being involved in CAF competitions is something every club aims for. For us, we now have an opportunity to get ourselves into the group stages, and both legs will be very important,” said Tinkler.
2. HAASHIM DOMINGO, GASTÓN SIRINO, AND TASHREEQ MORRIS DELIVER FOR THE CITIZENS
Former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Haashim Domingo opened the scoring in the 16th minute to give Durban City an early lead.
Gastón Sirino doubled the advantage shortly after the second half began. Meanwhile, Tashreeq Morris scored the third goal in stoppage time of the second stanza from the spot kick to seal the victory for Durban City.
However, ASPL 2000 pulled one back through Sébastien Roussety, who scored a consolation goal in the 55th minute.
3. DURBAN CITY CAPITALISE ON HOME ADVANTAGE
Tinkler’s charges dominated large spells of the match through high-intensity pressing. The Mauritian visitors rarely threatened the home side’s defence, allowing Durban City to manage the game effectively and secure the win.
4. ADVANTAGE DURBAN CITY HEADING INTO SECOND LEG
The 3-1 home win gives Durban City a vital advantage ahead of the return fixture. ASPL 2000 will now need to score at least three goals to overturn the deficit on aggregate.
The second leg is scheduled for Sunday, 25 October 2026, in Mauritius. The kick-off is set for 15:00.
RELATED STORY: Why Eric Tinkler took the Durban City FC project
