Chippa steer clear of relegation playoff spot
Chippa United were forced to settle for a 1-1 home draw against Highlands Park in their Absa Premiership fixture at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Sunday.
The point was good enough to lift the PE side out of the relegation playoff spot.
But Chippa did not show any sense of urgency in the first half and appeared to take a laid-back approach to the game.
The Lions of the North took all the spotlight and attacked with all they had in search of an opening goal.
After the first half an hour, the Chilli Boys made some attempts to break into Highlands’ half but were received by an alert Highlands backline.
It was only in the 36th minute that coach Clinton Larsen’s troops got a shot on target, but Andile Mbanyane’s attempt also failed.
After a few more chances, Sabelo Nyambe eventually managed to put his team into the lead after he received a pass from Luckyboy Mokoena which he latched onto to find the back of the net.
But Highlands’ celebrations were short-lived as Lerato Manzini levelled the score line to make it 1-1.
Emotions ran high after the referee blew the whistle for halftime and there was a commotion among the players.
The end result saw Chippa’s Frederic Nsabiyumva and Peter Shalulile of Highlands each receive a yellow card before entering the tunnel for the break.
The hosts came out fired up in the second half, creating a few problems for the Highlands backline. The Chilli Boys are now in 14th position with 21 points from 24 matches, but are far from being out of danger.
They are level on points with Baroka, who have now dropped to 15th on goal difference.
A win against Highlands would have been a much more pleasing result for coach Larsen as his side still stare possible relegation square in the face, but his players were not hungry enough on Sunday.
Free State Stars hammered AmaZulu 4-1 to ease their relegation fears.
Ugandan Martin Kizza was first to score, firing a closerange shot between the legs of goalkeeper Siyabonga Mbatha after only four minutes in Bethlehem.
Another three goals were scored within seven minutes midway through the second half, including one for AmaZulu by Zimbabwean Talent Chawapiwa.
Congo Brazzaville-born Harris Tchilimbou completed Stars’ biggest home win of the season with a stoppage-time tap-in. – AFP