Lerato Manzine’s hat-trick and Andile Mbenyane’s goal saw Chippa United clinch a vital 4-1 win against Platinum Stars in a Absa Premier League fixture at a fully-packed Wolfson Stadium in KwaZakhele yesterday.
Stars’ Ndumiso Mabena scored the only goal for the visitors in the second half.
Yesterday’s win also ended the PE side’s dry spell of playing five league games without a win.
But most importantly the Chilli Boys’ were able to avenge their 3-2 loss against Dikwena in the first round of the league.
The four goals were enough to make sure Chippa maintain they position in the top eight.
Ahead of the game Chippa’s coach Dan “Dance” Malesela said with the three draws and the loss in their five previous matches the team had put themselves under pressure.
He said Chippa just needed one win and the other victories would come along.
Malesela’s troops will now have to dig deep as they are faced with yet another tough encounter. They play second-placed Bidvest Wits on the table on Saturday.
It was Chippa’s show in the first half as they had all the limelight and attacked from the onset. There were fireworks in the first 20 minutes of the game but the pace quickly faded as the players seemed to be struggling with the strong Bay winds.
As a buildup to the opening goal the Chilli Boys’ missed many opportunities. Their first strike came as early as five minutes into the game through Xola Mlambo.
Chippa’s Buyani Sali tried his luck at goals as the team was searching for that opening goal but his strike was saved by Dikwena’s goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul.
Stars did not take the attack lying down Mduduzi Nyanda counterd but his strike was stopped by Chippa’s goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi.
Minutes after Mbenyene found himself alone with the goalkeeper and scored the opening goal in the 10th minute. It was a cool start to the second half with few attempts at goals from both teams.
But he game sprang into life only in the last remaining minutes of the game with Manzine’s hat-trick denying Stars of any chances of coming back into the match.
• Jomo Cosmos and Bloemfontein Celtic played to a goalless draw in their league clash at Olen Park yesterday.
The result does little for either team’s ambitions in the remainder of the season, with Ezenkosi looking to avoid relegation and Phunya Sele Sele trying to have a strong finish to catapult them into the top eight.
Cosmos started the match aggressively, showing an urgency from the opening minutes which was reflected in Celtic goalkeeper Patrick Tignyemb being forced into saves from Mician Mhone and Pentjie Zulu inside the opening quarter hour.
A few minutes later it was the visitors’ turn to threaten a goal, with Dumisani Zuma forcing Sherwyn Naicker into a good save, while Lyle Lakay directed a shot wide of the mark shortly thereafter to keep the home side’s defence on their toes.
The teams continued to trade chances up to halftime, but the break arrived with the score line still blank.
Early in the second half both teams shuffled their pack in midfield, with Celtic throwing on Vuyani Ntanga, while Cosmos introduced Mxolisi Machupu, but with no joy.
In their match, Golden Arrows beat Black Aces 4-2 at the Mbombela Stadium.
Platinum Stars have no answer to the determined PE outfit
Stars’ Ndumiso Mabena scored the only goal for the visitors in the second half.
Yesterday’s win also ended the PE side’s dry spell of playing five league games without a win.
But most importantly the Chilli Boys’ were able to avenge their 3-2 loss against Dikwena in the first round of the league.
The four goals were enough to make sure Chippa maintain they position in the top eight.
Ahead of the game Chippa’s coach Dan “Dance” Malesela said with the three draws and the loss in their five previous matches the team had put themselves under pressure.
He said Chippa just needed one win and the other victories would come along.
Malesela’s troops will now have to dig deep as they are faced with yet another tough encounter. They play second-placed Bidvest Wits on the table on Saturday.
It was Chippa’s show in the first half as they had all the limelight and attacked from the onset. There were fireworks in the first 20 minutes of the game but the pace quickly faded as the players seemed to be struggling with the strong Bay winds.
As a buildup to the opening goal the Chilli Boys’ missed many opportunities. Their first strike came as early as five minutes into the game through Xola Mlambo.
Chippa’s Buyani Sali tried his luck at goals as the team was searching for that opening goal but his strike was saved by Dikwena’s goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul.
Stars did not take the attack lying down Mduduzi Nyanda counterd but his strike was stopped by Chippa’s goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi.
Minutes after Mbenyene found himself alone with the goalkeeper and scored the opening goal in the 10th minute. It was a cool start to the second half with few attempts at goals from both teams.
But he game sprang into life only in the last remaining minutes of the game with Manzine’s hat-trick denying Stars of any chances of coming back into the match.
• Jomo Cosmos and Bloemfontein Celtic played to a goalless draw in their league clash at Olen Park yesterday.
The result does little for either team’s ambitions in the remainder of the season, with Ezenkosi looking to avoid relegation and Phunya Sele Sele trying to have a strong finish to catapult them into the top eight.
Cosmos started the match aggressively, showing an urgency from the opening minutes which was reflected in Celtic goalkeeper Patrick Tignyemb being forced into saves from Mician Mhone and Pentjie Zulu inside the opening quarter hour.
A few minutes later it was the visitors’ turn to threaten a goal, with Dumisani Zuma forcing Sherwyn Naicker into a good save, while Lyle Lakay directed a shot wide of the mark shortly thereafter to keep the home side’s defence on their toes.
The teams continued to trade chances up to halftime, but the break arrived with the score line still blank.
Early in the second half both teams shuffled their pack in midfield, with Celtic throwing on Vuyani Ntanga, while Cosmos introduced Mxolisi Machupu, but with no joy.
In their match, Golden Arrows beat Black Aces 4-2 at the Mbombela Stadium.
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