Chippa United fought back to hold Cape Town City to a 1-1 draw in a DStv Premiership match at the Buffalo City Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The draw saw the Chilli Boys climb up to the 12th spot on the league standings.
Thabo September and Kwanele Kopo will be hoping to mastermind their first win as Chippa co-coaches when the team faces NC Professionals in the Nedbank Cup Last 32 on 25 February.
City, on the other hand, climbed up to the second spot on the standings despite having dropped points.
Coach Eric Tinkler and his charges will now travel to Pretoria to take on SuperSport United in the Nedbank Cup Last encounter on 20 February.
FULL TIME | Our first game of 2024 ends in a draw.
— Cape Town City FC (@CapeTownCityFC) February 17, 2024
🌶️ 1-1 💙 #iamCityFC pic.twitter.com/hVSZMfePxE
The Citizens got off to a bright start with Thabiso Kutumela making some promising runs in the Chill Boys' box.
The deadlock was broken in the 23rd minute when Khanyisa Mayo netted his eighth league goal of the season from close range to hand City a 1-0 lead after being set up by Kutumela.
However, the lead only lasted for five minutes as the hosts levelled matters through Elmo Kambindu.
The Namibia international headed home Luvuyo Memela's corner-kick and the score was 1-0 during halftime as Chippa fought back to hold City in the first half.
The Citizens pushed for their second goal of the match after the restart with Thabo Nodada carrying his side forward from midfield.
The 28-year-old forced goalkeeper Lloyd Kazapua into making a decent save with a shot from outside the box in the 56th minute.
However, City suffered a blow with five minutes left on the clock as they were reduced to 10 players after Relebogile Mokhuoane picked up his second yellow card of the match and he was sent off.
Chippa then searched for a late winning goal, but City stood firm at the back and ultimately the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
FT: 🌶️
— Chippa United FC (@ChippaUnitedFC) February 17, 2024
Chilli boys 1 - 1 @CapeTownCityFC pic.twitter.com/7ageNHObQ1
Chippa (1) 1 (Kambindu 29')
City (1) 1 (Mayo 23')
Chippa United: Kazapua, Kammies (Nhlapo 75'), Chabalala, Mokhele, Modise, Majogoro, Mosele (Poggenpoel 87'), Memela (Francis 57'), Martin (Mqokozo 87'), Luthuli (Maarman 74'), Kambindu.
Cape Town City: Chippa United: Keet, Cupido, Gordinho, Slatsha, Nodada, Mokhuoane, Fisher (Mkhize 61'), Rhodes (Sifumba 82'), Mayo (Daniels 83'), Gonzalez (Van Heeren 71'), Kutumela (Sereets 61').