Chilli Boys move up ladder with victory
CHIPPPA United moved up the Premiership ladder last night, beating Free State Stars 1-0 in an exciting league game at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Fast-paced William Twala scored the only goal of the match in the 47th minute.
Playing at home with their supporters' ululating in the stands, the Port Elizabeth side began dominating, giving Stars little room to breathe.
It was sweet revenge for United after being defeated twice by Stars in their previous top-flight matches during the 2012-13 season.
United suffered a blow early in the game when leading goal-scorer David Zulu had to be substituted after sustaining a knee injury.
Lucky Khune was brought in to partner George Akpabio up front.
Twala's first clear chance at goal came in the 38th minute when he forced a fine save out of Stars keeper Ayanda Mtshali for a corner kick.
In the second half, the Chilli Boys applied pressure on the visitors' goal and broke through in the 47th minute when Twala scored to make it 1-0.
United coach Roger Sikhakhane immediately made his second substitution, bringing in Mxolisi Ntshingila to replace Akpabio.
Stars were reduced to 10 men after Robert Sankara was red-carded for a second bookable offence.
United should have increased the margin when Khune, who was on song, received a pass from captain Andile Mbenyane, but he fluffed it.
The Free State side tried every trick in the book in search of an equaliser.
United are now in fourth place on the log with 20 points from 12 games, 10 points behind the leaders, Kaizer Chiefs.
Meanwhile, second-placed Ajax Cape Town cut Chiefs' lead at the top of the table to nine points as Granwald Scott's long-range strike handed them a 1-0 win over Bloemfontein Celtic at Cape Town Stadium last night.
The game reached no great heights as a spectacle, but Ajax coach Roger de Sa will be pleased to get back to winning ways after disappointing results in their last three outings.
Celtic, who came into the game having taken 10 points from the last 12 available, had their share of the ball but created few scoring opportunities as Ajax goalkeeper Anssi Jaakkola had one of his quieter outings.
The result extends Celtic's horror run in the Mother City against the Urban Warriors, having still not tasted success there in 15 years of trying.
The ball broke to him 27m from goal and his shot arrowed onto the top corner, giving Patrick Tignyemb no chance of making the save.
Next up for Ajax is an away trip to Moroka Swallows on Wednesday, while Celtic make the short journey to Free State Stars on the same night. - Additional reporting by Nick Said
Article by - Mthetho Ndoni ndonim@timesmedia.co.za
