D6 Mitchells Plain faced off against Nexus (CT City) in a league home match at the Strandfontein Sportsground on 26 April 2025, kicking off at 9:30 am. The match concluded with a resounding scoreline of 0-0, leading to a penalty shootout that would ultimately determine the winner, showcasing the resilience and determination of both sides throughout the contest.
D6 Mitchells Plain lined up in a 4-2-1-3 formation, designed to balance defensive solidity with attacking flair. Raphael Juta took his position in goal, supported by a back four comprising Linamandla Diniso on the right, Deen Isaacs on the left, and the central pairing of Hamza Khalid and Onenceba Xoki. In front of them, the midfield duo of Niyaaz Sage and Inathi Jekemba provided a solid base, while Zayn Pedro operated as an attacking midfielder, looking to link play with the front three. Nicholas Nomdo started on the right flank, while Malachi Fernandez occupied the left, both tasked with supporting striker Cayden Roman at the spearhead of the attack. The substitutes for the match included Zaidan Alfos, Athandile Sithole, and Diego Petersen.
The match began with an early attempt from Cayden Roman, who tested the Nexus goalkeeper just three minutes in, but his effort was saved, signalling D6 Mitchells Plain's intent. However, the early momentum was briefly halted when Nicholas Nomdo had to be substituted due to injury, with Zaidan Alfos coming on in his place at the 7-minute mark. Roman continued to press, launching another effort on goal just two minutes later, but once again, the shot was saved, demonstrating the visitors' defensive resilience.
As the match progressed, Malachi Fernandez showcased his vision with a long pass that created a significant chance in the 10th minute. Raphael Juta, the D6 goalkeeper, was called into action shortly after, making a confident catch in the 13th minute to maintain the scoreline. The 19th minute saw Deen Isaacs come agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock, hitting the crossbar with a powerful shot that had the crowd on their feet.
Zayn Pedro's attempt in the 22nd minute went wide, as D6 Mitchells Plain continued to apply pressure. However, the game took a slight turn when Malachi Fernandez committed a late tackle in the 25th minute, resulting in a foul but fortunately not conceding a penalty. Tactical adjustments were made as Athandile Sithole replaced Niyaaz Sage in the 35th minute, just before the half-time whistle blew, signalling a competitive first half with no goals to show for the efforts.
The second half commenced with Cayden Roman once again trying his luck, but his shot in the 43rd minute went wide, reflecting the frustration of the D6 side. The tactical changes continued as Diego Petersen came on for Malachi Fernandez at half-time, while Niyaaz Sage re-entered the fray, taking the place of Zayn Pedro in the 48th minute. Roman remained a constant threat, but his efforts in the 53rd minute also failed to find the target.
As the match drew to a close, Athandile Sithole made way for Malachi Fernandez in the 64th minute, as D6 Mitchells Plain sought to find that elusive goal. Despite numerous attempts and a strong performance, the match ended in a stalemate
