Chippa strike late to claim Chiefs scalp

Chippa United struck a late winner to defeat Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 in a DStv Premiership match at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday evening.

The result saw the Chilli Boys claim a third successive win and move up to seventh place on the standings, while the Amakhosi remained in fourth spot and saw the end of a three-game winning run and five-game unbeaten streak. The Soweto side also missed out on the chance to rise to the top of the log.

Chiefs settled the quicker of the two teams and bossed possession from early on, though they found Chippa’s deep-lying defence a tough nut to crack.

To give the visitors credit, they worked hard to close down the space on the flanks and starve service to Chiefs’ beanpole striker Caleb Bimenyimana, who had hardly a sniff of the ball in the opening half hour.

The hosts finally carved out a clear chance in the 32nd minute, with Kgaogelo Sekgota picking out Keagan Dolly in the middle of the penalty with a low cross from the right, but the Chiefs number 10 produced a tame shot that was comfortably saved by goalkeeper Lloyd Kazapua.

Six minutes later Dolly produced an effort with a lot more venom in it, firing off a shot from the left of the box, but his effort only rippled the side netting.

Yet momentum was on the Amakhosi’s side and they claimed the lead on 44 minutes through defender Siyabonga Ngezana, who got above his marker to meet Dolly’s corner kick and score with a downward header beyond Kazapua’s left hand.

Chippa opted for a double change at the start of the second half, with Etiosa Ighodaro and Ayabulela Konqobe introduced, but Chiefs nearly made it 2-0 in just the second minute after the restart, as Bimenyimana unleashed a fierce shot from just outside the box which produced a brilliant save from Kazapua.

The Chilli Boys found the back of the net via Ighodaro in the 52nd minute – after a beautifully constructed move, sparked by the pace and power of Azola Matrose – but the goal was ruled out for an incorrect offside call.

Yet the away side claimed a deserved equaliser two minutes later, as Chiefs’ defence failed to deal with a cross from the left by Ronald Pfumbidzai, and the loose ball was cracked home by Siphelele Luthuli for 1-1.

The match turned somewhat scrappy after Chippa’s goal, with neither side able to reclaim a convincing attacking rhythm. There were half chances at either end, but in truth neither goalkeeper was under any major threat for the next half hour.

On 84 minutes Chiefs’ attack clicked up a gear as substitute Khama Billiat and Dolly combined beautifully, but the latter stabbed a shot wide of the mark after breaking through the Chippa backline.

The Eastern Cape side then stunned the Durban crowd with a goal out of nowhere in the 89th minute: Luthuli whipped in a fine free kick and Pfumbidzai’s header deflected off Dove Edmilson and founds its way into the back of the net via the inside of the post to make it 2-1.

Chiefs should have struck back immediately, but both Billiat and Bimenyimana were guilty of spurting great chances to bring their team back level, leaving the Chilli Boys to pick up a famous victory and continue their momentum.

The teams will return to DStv Premiership action next midweek, with Chippa hosting Sekhukhune United on Tuesday, 18 October and Chiefs welcoming TS Galaxy on Wednesday, 19 October.

Kaizer Chiefs (1) 1 (Ngezana 44’)

Chippa United (0) 2 (Luthuli 54’, Pfumbidzai/Edmilson og 89’)

Chiefs: Petersen, Frosler, Edmilson, Ngezana (Kwinika 74’), Hlanti, Maart (Matlou 85’), Blom, Dolly, Sekgota (Billiat 57’), Du Preez (Sithebe 57’), Bimenyimana

Chippa: Kazapua, Mdunyelwa, Mathiane, Pietersen, Pfumbidzai, Maarman (Konqobe 46’), Mkhize, Lebitso, Matrose, Luthuli (Chabalala 90+1’), Kambindu (Ighodaro 46’)