Johannesburg – The rags-to-riches rise of Chippa United in the Premiership continued on Wednesday night with a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Bidvest Wits University at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
The result elevated the Port Elizabeth-imported team to second spot in the log table.
Recently-signed Bafana Bafana striker Edward Manqele came onto the field as a second-half substitute and immediately proved his worth by scoring an opportunist winning goal in the 88th minute.
And after an unbeaten run of five games that now includes victories over such vaunted clubs as Orlando Pirates, Moroka Swallows, AmaZulu and Wits and a draw against defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns, the move of the perennial relegation candidates from Cape Town to a new home venue in Port Elizabeth has certainly been positive.
Adding to the fairytale nature of Chippa's latest success over one of the league's affluent teams was the fact that match-winner Manqele's transfer from Sundowns after loan periods with several other clubs was only completed amid a great deal of controversy over whether he could be registered at this juncture of the season.
As impressive as Chippa's recent results had been the manner in which they have employed a composed and fluid style of play was rarely evident as they bounced back and forth from the top-tier league in South Africa.
It took them only seven minutes to open the score when the in-form David Zulu scored with a powerhouse penalty kick that thundered into the roof of the net and jolted ambitious Wits back on their heels.
After an even opening half in which only two snappy saves from Moeneeb Josephs prevented Chippa from increasing their lead, Wits finally got on level terms via the penalty spot as well, through another well-taken spot-kick from veteran Namibian striker Henrico Botes.
The second half developed into a dour, evenly-contested battle in which play centred mainly in the midfield, with on-target chances few and far between from both teams until Manqele burst dramatically onto the scene for the late winner.
With the result, Wits were left 14 points behind log-leaders Kaizer Chiefs with only 14 points of their own, and a drop out of the important top eight positions in the log table to ninth place.
In the process, it left coach Gavin Hunt a frustrated and forlorn figure on the touchline as he grappled with the implications of his team's latest deflating setback. – Sapa