EAST LONDON – A goal in either half saw Chippa United and SuperSport United draw 1-1 in their penultimate Premiership match of the season at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium on Saturday.
Leading for the better part of the 90-minute contest, SuperSport were left to rue their tactics late on in the match which allowed Chippa to first dominate proceedings, before scoring an equaliser which seemed inevitable with the flow of the game.
Relegation-threatened SuperSport were in desperate search of a win, as the single point will help their cause little as they inch up to 33 points and remain 14th on the log. Chippa, meanwhile, drop one spot to eighth with their 36-point tally.
The visitors grabbed the lead in the ninth minute as SuperSport forward Thabo Mnyamane unleashed with a well-timed effort which had the beating of Chippa keeper Daniel Akpeyi.
Without too much in the way of goalmouth action, SuperSport were presented with a golden opportunity to double their lead as Dean Furman missed a penalty in the 34th minute.
Teboho Mokoena had the next chance for SuperSport in the 37th minute after beating a couple of defenders, but his effort was straight into the hands of a grateful Akpeyi.
After the break, Mokoena had a shot from range in the 56th minute for SuperSport, but his fiercely struck attempt from the right flew across the face of goal.
SuperSport substitute Kingston Nkhatha threatened in the 66th minute as he rose to meet a cross in the Chippa area, but his header was straight at the keeper.
Chippa had an opportunity to draw level in the 73rd minute as a flowing move left the shot falling to substitute Mxolisi Macuphu, but his rasping effort was directed straight at Ronwen Williams in the SuperSport goal.
After a sustained period of possession and controlling play, Chippa equalised as Thabo Rakhale levelled the scores with a calm finish to make it 1-1 in the 89th minute.