Chilli Boys hold on to draw
Eastern Cape side get another chance to avoid relegation
CHIPPA United held on doggedly for a valuable point against Mpumalanga Black Aces in the Absa Premiership at Mbombela Stadium last night.
The draw moves them three points clear of fellow relegation candidates Moroka Swallows and AmaZulu with one match left to play for the sides.
It’s been a season characterised by disorganisation and incompetence from Chippa, who were eighth at the start of 2015 before dropping to 14th after a run of poor results.
Last night, in desperate need of a win to keep their hopes of surviving alive, they scored early but could not hold on for the victory as the game finished 1-1.
Chippa need to win their final game against Kaizer Chiefs and hope that 15th placed AmaZulu, who beat University of Pretoria 2-1 last night, lose their final match and go into the end of season playoffs.
Velile Dyaloyi, United’s Multichoice Diski Challenge team coach, became the fifth man to sit on the bench as coach of a club run like a spaza shop after replacing interim boss Mich D’Avary, who was called into to do the job when German coach Ernst Middendorp was suspended.
D’Avary and assistant Fadlu Davids were shown the door after a defeat to Free State Stars at the weekend sucked them deeper into the relegation quagmire.
United’s owner Chippa Mpengesi might as well sit in the hot seat and coach the team himself, like Jomo Sono at Jomo Cosmos, because he just can’t seem to find the right man to meet his standards.
Dyaloyi’s reign got off to a perfect start, his side scoring in the third minute of the game through former Mamelodi Sundowns striker Edward Manqele, who headed home from close range after William Twala whipped in a good cross from the right.
They did not build on their impressive start, the visitors giving Aces too much time on the ball in midfield.
Aces finally found a chink in the opposition armour, as left back Lehlogonolo Nonyane finished off a good move to get the hosts back on level terms just after the half hour mark.
It was a cool finish from the former Jomo Cosmos defender, who beat United goalkeeper Mbongeni Mzimela at the near post to finish off a move which he started with a darting run from his position at the back.
Aces should have gone ahead six minutes after equalising, but United right back Gert Barends put his body on the line to block a Collins Mbesuma shot which was heading into the back of the net after Mzimela had come off his line and failed to clear the ball.
Let off the hook, United caretaker coach Dyaloyi brought in midfield hard man Buyani Sali just before the break to try and tame Aces’ Nigerian playmaker Onyekachi Okonkwo, who was running the show in midfield for the home side.
United were very fortunate to go into the break level and needed a better performance in the second period, but failed to deliver.
After Siyabulela Shai missed two chances early on in the second period, Manqele followed that up with one of the misses of the season, the player shooting wide when he only had the keeper to beat. United held off Aces’ attempt at securing a last gasp victory, clearing every ball that came their way.
● At Free State Stadium, Bloem Celtic went down 0-1 to Free State Stars in a Bloemfontein derby with the winning goal coming off the right boot of Moeketsi Sekola in the 35th minute.
● Platinum Stars overwhelmed Polokwane City in their derby encounter at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium 3-1.
Stars goals came from Eleazar Rodgers (in the eighth minute), Ndumiso Mabena (18) and Eleazar Rodgers (49). City’s only goal came from Essau Kanyenda in the 70th minute, providing scant consolation.