Player Ratings: Durban City 0–1 Mamelodi Sundowns Betway Premiership, Round 23

Mamelodi Sundowns were rarely troubled at Chatsworth Stadium on Tuesday evening, with Tsiki Ntsabeleng’s tenth-minute strike doing all the damage against a Durban City side that worked hard but lacked the cutting edge to trouble the league leaders. Here is how both squads fared.

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MAMELODI SUNDOWNS

Ronwen Williams – 7.5

A composed and largely untroubled evening for the Bafana Bafana goalkeeper. Williams was alert to everything Durban City offered and commanded his penalty area with the calm authority you would expect from a goalkeeper of his experience. The clean sheet was earned through good organisational work as much as it was through saves, and he looked entirely comfortable throughout.

Khuliso Mudau – 6.5

Effective going forward and a constant outlet down the right channel, Mudau contributed well to Sundowns’ attacking width. A yellow card for dissent in the 36th minute was needless, particularly given that he is already in the danger zone for suspension, and it is a habit Miguel Cardoso will want addressed before the CAF Champions League semi-final against Espérance de Tunis. Everything else about his display was solid enough.

Grant Kekana – 7.5

Commanding at the heart of the Sundowns defence. Kekana read the game intelligently, won his aerial duels comfortably and ensured Durban City’s forwards found no room in behind. He was one of the most composed performers on the pitch across 90 minutes and deserves significant credit for the clean sheet.

Khulumani Ndamane – 7

Solid alongside Kekana throughout. Ndamane dealt efficiently with whatever Durban City threw at the backline and was composed under pressure when the home side increased their urgency in the second half. Not spectacular, but exactly what Cardoso requires from his defensive unit.

Aubrey Modiba – 7

Provided balance and width down the left flank and linked well with the midfield runners around him. Modiba was one of the cleaner performers in the back line before being replaced by Divine Lunga in the closing stages as Cardoso began to manage his squad ahead of Tunisia.

Marcelo Allende – 8

The Chilean was the creative engine behind Sundowns’ best moments. His assist for Ntsabeleng’s opener demonstrated his ability to identify and release runners in tight spaces, and he continued to probe and find gaps between Durban City’s lines throughout the 90 minutes. Consistently the most dangerous creator on the pitch, and a player whose influence extends well beyond the statistics.

Jayden Adams – 7.5

A dominant midfield presence from first whistle to last. Adams won possession, recycled the ball intelligently and his off-the-ball work-rate helped Sundowns maintain their stranglehold on the contest. He is one booking away from suspension and will need to manage himself carefully in the weeks ahead, but on this evidence he remains indispensable to how Cardoso’s team functions.

Tsiki Ntsabeleng – 9 ★ Man of the Match

The FC Dallas loanee was the standout performer of the evening by a considerable margin. His tenth-minute goal, scored with sharp instinct after Allende’s clever delivery, set the tone for the entire match and provided Sundowns with the platform on which everything else was built. He was electric down the right channel for the duration of his 73 minutes, direct, confident and consistently threatening in a way Durban City’s defence had no real answer to. Ntsabeleng has seen limited game so far, but performances of this quality are making it increasingly difficult for Cardoso to leave him out.

Masandawana secure maximum points away in Durban 👆

Durban City 0️⃣➖1️⃣ Mamelodi Sundowns (10’ Ntsabeleng)#Sundowns #BetwayPrem #AreyengMasandawana pic.twitter.com/K2gD4jbLEB

— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) April 7, 2026

Arthur Sales – 6.5

Sales worked tirelessly between the lines in the first half and helped connect midfield with attack in Mamelodi Sundowns’ better attacking passages. He was unable to produce the final product that would have pushed his rating higher, but his movement and link-up play contributed meaningfully to the controlled nature of Sundowns’ performance before Thapelo Morena replaced him on the hour.

Tashreeq Matthews – 7

Matthews gave Durban City’s right flank a taxing evening. He was lively and creative down his channel, producing several half-chances and forcing the City defence into repeated decisions. A useful contribution across his 83 minutes before making way for Teboho Mokoena.

Brayan León – 6.5

The Colombian held the ball up competently and worked hard in the channels, but was unable to add the goal or assist that his outstanding form this season demands. He was replaced by Iqraam Rayners in the 73rd minute as Cardoso rotated with one eye firmly on the first leg in Tunis next weekend.

Substitutes: Thapelo Morena (on 63′) brought directness and energy when he came on. Iqraam Rayners and Themba Zwane (both on 73′) had limited time to make an impression but showed their usual intent. Divine Lunga and Teboho Mokoena (both 83′) are not rated.

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DURBAN CITY

Darren Keet – 7

The experienced goalkeeper was the busiest man in Durban City’s side by some distance and he was excellent. Keet made a number of important stops to keep the deficit at one goal and cannot be held responsible for Ntsabeleng’s goal, which came from a well-executed team move. His presence and leadership were crucial to preventing a heavier defeat.

Haasheen Jalai – 6.5

One of the more reliable performers in a City backline that had a difficult evening. Jalai tracked his runners diligently, provided an outlet going forward when the opportunity arose and generally coped as well as could be expected against a Sundowns attack of this quality.

Faheem Gcaba – 5.5

A difficult match for Gcaba, who was booked for dissent shortly after the restart and struggled at various points with the movement of Sundowns’ forwards. His frustration surfaced visibly as the game wore on, and his evening was not helped by the yellow card arriving just when City needed composure. Below par from one of City’s more experienced central defenders.

De Kock – 6.5

The more composed of the two City centre-backs. De Kock dealt efficiently with the aerial threat posed by León and read the game well enough to limit Sundowns to half-chances in open play. A steady, if unspectacular, display.

Siyanda Ncanana – 6.5

Kept things tight on the left side of City’s defensive unit and was disciplined in his defensive duties throughout. He offered overlapping runs when the opportunity presented itself, though service going forward was infrequent. A solid low-key contribution.

Kyle Jurgens – 6

Jurgens competed well for large portions of the match and did his best to screen the City backline. However, a needless foul and consequent booking deep into stoppage time was avoidable and unnecessary at a stage when the result had already been decided. He is now in a dangerous position with accumulated caution risk heading into the next fixture.

Brad Poggenpoel – 5.5

A frustrating evening for Poggenpoel, who was unable to impose himself on a midfield contest that Sundowns controlled throughout. He found it difficult to operate in tight areas and his booking for a foul in the 82nd minute led directly to his withdrawal three minutes later. One of City’s less effective performers across the 85 minutes he was on the pitch.

Thabo Nodada – 5.5

Nodada struggled to find the spaces he needed to operate and never really got going. Sundowns’ midfield pressed him effectively, denied him time on the ball and his influence on the contest was minimal before Siyabonga Magawana replaced him shortly after the hour. An evening he will want to put behind him quickly.

Bayanda Mokwena – 6.5

One of the brighter performers in City’s midfield and arguably their most effective outfield player on the night. Mokwena showed more intent and directness than those around him, driving at the Sundowns backline on several occasions and providing City with one of their few reliable attacking outlets. His withdrawal in the 77th minute removed one of City’s more dangerous options at exactly the wrong moment.

Sibusiso Mahlangu – 5

A first-half performance to forget for Mahlangu, who was unable to make any impression against Sundowns’ compact defensive shape. He was starved of service and unable to manufacture anything independently when the ball did arrive. Pitso Dladla had seen enough by half-time and the change was understandable.

Lubumba – 5.5

Isolated up front and given very little to work with, Lubumba was unable to lay a glove on the Sundowns defence across his 46 minutes. He held the ball up when it reached him, but supply was too infrequent to build any kind of platform. He was replaced at the interval alongside Mahlangu as City reshaped their attack.

Substitutes: B. Mthembu and S. Maseko (both on 46′) showed more energy after the break, though Maseko’s yellow card for dissent at 67′ undermined his contribution. Siyabonga Magawana (on 61′) showed encouraging intent after replacing Nodada. L.K. Sifumba and Domingo (both on after 77′) are not rated.

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Afrik Foot’s verdict on the game

Sundowns did what the league leaders are supposed to do away from home. They struck early, controlled possession and saw the game out without ever looking seriously threatened.

The result keeps them two points clear at the summit with their eyes already turning to Tunis. For Durban City, the continental qualification race remains alive, but performances of this level will not be enough against the teams they need to overhaul.