Durban City became the first KwaZulu-Natal team to win the Nedbank Cup on Saturday, coming from behind to beat TS Galaxy 2-1 in a dramatic final at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, with striker Jean Lwamba scoring at both ends before producing the winning goal with an audacious finish in the 70th minute.
The result ends what has been a fairytale run for the KZN club, who entered the competition as underdogs and dispatched second-tier Casric Stars 1-0 in the semi-finals to reach their first ever Nedbank Cup final.
Galaxy, for their part, came through a penalty shootout against Milford FC after a 1-1 draw, setting up what was billed as a final between two first-time finalists in one of South African football’s most historic cup competitions.
How the match unfolded
The opening exchanges were tight, with neither side showing much attacking intent in the first half. The deadlock was broken in the 42nd minute under circumstances that initially looked cruel for Durban City.
A powerful header from Galaxy’s Victor Letsoalo was saved by goalkeeper Darren Keet, but the loose ball fell to Seluleko Mahlambi, whose scrambling effort forced Lwamba into putting it over his own line. Galaxy went into the break one goal to the good.
City responded after the interval. Mfanafuthi Mkhize levelled in the 57th minute, threading a cross into the goal area that found the far post after sliding through Galaxy’s defensive line.
The game was back in the balance, and it was City who found the decisive moment. With just over 20 minutes remaining, Lwamba collected a pass from Luphumlo Sifumba on the edge of the box and curled the ball with the outside of his right foot on the half-volley over and around the Galaxy goalkeeper. The finish was the kind that makes highlight reels.
The significance of the win
No team from KwaZulu-Natal had previously won the Nedbank Cup since the competition took its current form in 2008, making City’s triumph a genuinely historic moment for the province.
The victory was also notable for the figures involved in the dugout, with the post-match conversation drawing comparisons between the experienced hand of legendary midfielder Bernard Parker on the City bench and the young coaching mind of Pitso Dladla guiding Galaxy.
For Jean Lwamba, the match was a story of personal redemption. Having gifted Galaxy their lead with an own goal, he finished with the match-winning strike in what may prove to be the defining moment of his career.
Durban City will now turn their attention to next season’s CAF Confederation Cup, where South African Nedbank Cup winners earn a continental berth. For TS Galaxy, the defeat will sting, but reaching a first national cup final represents real progress for the Mpumalanga club.
