Chippa United fall in Mdantsane
Chippa United were stunned by SuperSport United when they lost 1-0, failing to give their fans in East London a goodbye present during their last Absa Premiership encounter at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium on Sunday.
Matsatsantsa opened the scoreboard in the 21st minute with a goal from former Chippa United player Mxolisi Macuphu – who swept the ball through while Chilli Boys goalkeeper Mbongeni Mzimela watched in amazement.
Prior to this encounter, Chippa were unbeaten in six matches.
Although the hosts looked dangerous from the first whistle, they were also guilty of not fighting hard enough when they got opportunities to score.
Thabo Rakhale and Rhulani Manzini made a formidable partnership up front which could have brought two goals in the game’s first 15 minutes.
SuperSport United’s Tebeho Mokoena also had opportunities to score before the goal by Macuphu, after he was lucky enough to get two shots on target in the first 10 minutes, but Mzimela was on high alert.
Manzini could also have found an equalising goal in the 33rd minute but he missed the target by inches.
SuperSport defenders Clayton Daniels and Grant Kekana were forced into working over- time, as the Chilli Boys were desperate for a goal.
Throughout the first half, Chippa’s Ruzaigh Gamildien was unlucky as he tried to penetrate Matsatsantsa’s defence.
In the second stanza, Bradley Grobler was causing problems for Mzimela and his assistants at the back as Grobler searched for another goal.
Chilli Boys coach Clinton Larson replaced Manzini with Lerato Manzini and brought in experienced skipper Mark Mayambela for Tebogo Makobela in the 60th minute.
The pair began to make strides with the aid of Gamildien and Rakhale but nothing was forthcoming.
Aubrey Modiba was looking dangerous as he was supplying Mokoena with good balls.
In the referee’s five minutes optional time, Manzini could have scored when he got a ball inside the box but Ronwen Williams managed to get the ball first.