Chippa inflict KO blow on Downs
Pitso lost for words after third defeat in a row
Samuel Julies came off the bench to score the only goal of the match to take Chippa United to the quarterfinals of the Telkom Knockout after they beat Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 here yesterday.
It was a third successive defeat for Sundowns and the second time that they had been dumped out of a cup competition at the first stage this season in what is turning out to be a challenging season for coach Pitso Mosimane.
Ex-Sundowns player Julies, who had replaced Lerato Manzini, scored in the second half after receiving a beautiful cross from Mpho Mvelase.
Downs’ Thokozani Sekotlong had a go at Chippa’s Daniel Akpeyi in the first 10 minutes, but the experienced keeper maintained composure and made a save.
Downs got a freekick that was taken by Percy Tau, but it didn’t produce the desired result. From then on the game turned into a blow-by-blow affair between the two teams.
Akpeyi worked overtime compared to Denis Onyango as the deposed Africans champions kept on knocking on the door, but the Chilli Boys were also taking the fight to the Chloorkop-based outfit.
The absence of Mark Mayambela didn’t affect Chippa badly as Mvelase and Sizwe Mndlindzo kept exerting the pressure on Downs.
Themba Zwane missed a golden opportunity to score as he managed to penetrate the home side midfield to find himself in the box but the Chilli Boys defenders were having none of it.
Elsewhere yesterday, Baroka stunned defending champions Cape Town City 1-0 at Peter Mokaba Stadium, with Zimbabwean midfielder Talent Chawapiwa scoring.
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