STARS SEND CHIPPA PACKING

A GOAL two minutes from time by Bangali Keita handed Free State Stars a 2-1 win over Chippa United in a Nedbank Cup last-16 match at the Goble Park Stadium in Bethlehem on Saturday afternoon.

Chippa started the better of the two sides with the first shot on goal in the eighth minute, but Thabo Rakhale saw his long-range effort well-saved by the keeper.

The away team was on the attack again in the 24th minute when Mark Mayambela met a cross with a powerfully struck 16-yard volley, but his attempt sailed inches over the target.

The home side’s first significant attack came just after the half-hour mark when Bangali Keita created some space for himself on the edge of the box, but his stinging effort shaved the wrong side of the post.

Neither side could find a goal before the break as the sides entered the tunnel locked at 0-0.

A minute into the second half Free State took the lead when Paulus Masehe headed home an inch-perfect corner-kick from Sinethemba Jantjie, 1-0.

Chippa, though, found the equaliser in the 57th minute when a fortuitous 24-yard free-kick from substitute Onassis Mntambo skimmed along the ground, under the defensive wall and into the corner of the net, (1-1).

Stars thought they had retaken the lead 10 minutes later when Goodman Dlamini found the back of the net, but his goal was not given because he was adjudged to be in an off-sides position.

The home side continued to throw players forward after that and were rewarded with the winning goal in the 88th minute thanks to a clinical strike from Bangali Keita. – SuperSport.com