Maziya hands Chippa victory with 94th-minute strike

A 94th-minute goal from Silas Maziya handed Chippa United a 2-1 win over Black Leopards in an Absa Premiership match at the Thohoyandou Stadium on Wednesday night.

It was the perfect start for Chippa who took the lead only a minute into the match following a clinical finish from Thabo Rakhale.

After taking the lead the away team piled on more pressure and came close to doubling their lead in the 20th minute when Maziya let fly from long range, but his shot was superbly saved by the keeper.

Leopards created their first chance on goal a minute later when Joseph Mhlongo broke into the box from the right and fired a low effort just wide of the target.

The home team saw more of the ball as they half progressed and should have restored parity five minutes before the break when Thabo Matlaba found some space on the edge of the box, but he blazed over the target under no pressure.

The half ended 1-0 in favour of Chippa.

Leopards started the second 45 where they left off and managed to equalise ten minutes into the half thanks to strike from Lesedi Alton Kapinga.

The next decent effort on target only came in the 70th minute and went the way of the home side when Mhlongo fired a ferocious shot goalwards, but his 20-yard stinger was turned around the post by the Chippa keeper.

Both sides pushed forward in the final 20 minutes, but neither side looked like finding a winner. That was until virtually the final touch of the match when Maziya fired the ball home for Chippa.

The result sees Chippa move away from the danger zone as they move up to tenth place while Leopards are only one point above relegation in 13th place.

Black Leopards (0) 1 (Kapinga 55’)

Chippa United (1) 2 (Rakhale 1’, Maziya 94’)

TEAMS

Leopards: Muleka, Zulu, Gyimah, Masia, Mudua, Hlongwane (Ndlovu 77’), Andrianarima (Tshepe 56’), Abubakar, Matlaba (Ngele 46’), Mhlongo, Kapinga.

Chippa: Mothwa, Modisane, Damons (Thopola 46’), Moyo, Malepe, Maphangule, Mahola, Maziya, Rakhale, Twala (Nsabiyuma 85’), Kwem (Sekotlong 77’).