Chippa United and SuperSport United played to a 1-1 draw in their DStv Premiership match at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday, with the result confirming that the Eastern Cape side will play in the Promotion/Relegation Playoffs.

The Chilli Boys looked set for victory until a late equalizer from Matsatsantsa, but even a narrow win would not have been enough for the home side, as fellow strugglers Stellenbosch and Maritzburg United avoided defeats in their matches elsewhere.

Both teams went on the attack from the early stages, but it was SuperSport who created the first chance, with Jamie Webber latching onto a cut-back from Iqraam Rayners and forcing a fine save from Chippa goalkeeper Ismail Watenga in the sixth minute.

Chippa responded with a chance of their own on 14 minutes, as Mokhele Maloisane did great work down the left to set up Augustine Kwem, who turned sharply in the 18-yard area and shot just over the frame of the goal.

The hosts soon took control of possession and asserted a measure of control, though Matsatsantsa remained dangerous on the counter, notably opening up the Chilli Boys just before the half-hour mark, only for Bradley Grobler to see his shot heroically blocked by Sandile Mthethwa.

Chippa dialled up the attacking pressure in the final 10 minutes of the half, with Thabiso Lebitso and Mthethwa drawing saves from Williams, but the game went to the break with the score line still blank.

The first clear chance of the second half went the way of the Chilli Boys, five minutes after the restart, with Kwem given a shooting chance from the edge of the box but Williams pulled off a great save to turn away the Nigerian’s grass-cutter.

The Eastern Cape side were not shy to let fly with their shots from all ranges and angles, but too often they either failed to hit the target altogether, or found Williams to be an immovable obstacle, such as in the 65th minute when he turned away an effort from Sizwe Mdlinzo.

However, Chippa’s persistence finally paid off in the 72nd minute, with substitute and club legend Andile Mbenyane scoring with a shot direct from a free kick – a beautiful effort which gave even the excellent Williams no chance.

SuperSport almost levelled through substitute Moses Waiswa in the 77th minute, with the attacker set up by Ghampani Lungu to shoot on target, but Watenga made an excellent save to keep Chippa 1-0 up.

The same two protagonists produced the same result on 85 minutes, with Watenga turning away Waiswa’s attempt to beat him at the near post after good set-up play by Kuda Mahachi. Yet SuperSport’s pressure finally paid off deep in injury time, with another substitute, Onismor Bhasera, heading home from a corner kick to see the game end 1-1.

Chippa United (0) 1 (Mbenyane 72’)

SuperSport United (0) 1 (Bhasera 90+3’)

Chippa: Watenga, Damons, Mthethwa, Nhlapo, M. Maloisane, P. Maloisane (Msane 77’), Sangweni (Mbenyane 67’), Konqobe, Lebitso, Mdlinzo (Phewa 81’), Kwem

SuperSport: Williams, Kekana, Khumalo, Ditlhokwe, Mahachi, Lungu, Donn, Webber, Rayners (Bhasera 73’), Gabuza (Waiswa 73’), Grobler

Backpage TXT