Chilli Boys too spicy for Natal Rich Boyz

Chippa United handed co-coaches Thabo September and Kwanele Kopo their first DStv Premiership victory after beating 10-man Richards Bay 3-0 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Wednesday.

The Chilli Boys picked up their first win in five matches to move up to 10th place on 23 points, just one outside the top eight, leaving the Natal Rich Boyz just two points off the foot of the table in 15th position after Cape Town Spurs held Orlando Pirates to a 1-1 draw.

Up to 10th on the #DStvPrem table with 23 points 📈

Chippa Utd win their second game at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium this season 🌶 pic.twitter.com/fBMeKifbWs

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) March 6, 2024

Chippa were looking to maintain their unbeaten start under September and Kopo after recording successive 1-1 draws against Cape Town City and Stellenbosch in the opening two games of 2024.

Meanwhile, Richards Bay sought to snap a two-match losing streak, having beaten SuperSport United 3-1 in Vusumuzi Vilakazi's first game at the helm on 30 December before suffering back-to-back defeats against Sekhukhune United and Royal AM since the league resumed.

The hosts made just one change from the clash with Stellies as Bienvenu Eva Nga came in for Siphelele Luthuli. Vilakazi opted to shake things up and brought Jackson Mabokgwane, Abel Mabaso, Boikanyo Komane, Abdi Banda and Somila Ntsundwana into the team that lost 2-1 to Thwihli Thwahla at the weekend.

The Chilli Boys wasted little time in asserting their dominance as they raced into a two-goal lead in Gqeberha.

Justice Chabalala opened the scoring after just seven minutes to register his second goal of the season and Craig Martin doubled their advantage five minutes later to make it two in two games for the winger.

Vilakazi's side already had a mountain to climb and their evening got even worse early in the second half following the dismissal of Banda on 54 minutes for a second bookable offence.

Kayden Francis was introduced for Martin on the hour mark and he didn't take long to make an impact after bagging his first goal for the Eastern Cape club on 74 minutes to seal the win.

Chippa have a tough assignment against league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium in three days' time, while Richards Bay welcome TS Galaxy to the King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium on Saturday, 9 March.

Chippa United (2) 3 (Chabalala 7', Martin 12', Francis 74')

Richards Bay 0

Chippa United: S. Nwabali, S. Kammies (S. Nhlapo 10'), T. Makhele, J. Chabalala, M. Modise, K. Mahlatsi (A. Konqobe 46'), B. Majogoro (B. Poggenpoel 79'), G. Mosele, C. Martin (K. Francis 60'), B. Eva Nga (S. Luthuli 46'), E. Kambindu.

Richards Bay: J. Mabokgwane (S. Magoola 35'), A. Mabaso, S. Mcineka, A. Banda, N. Ndaba, M. Mthembu (T. Gumede 46'), B. Komane, J. Figuareido (L. Mhlongo 76'), S. Barns, S. Ntsundwana, K. Muyaba (Y. Mbuthuma 46').