Manzini hat-trick hands Chilli Boys vital victory
[caption id="attachment_143899" align="aligncenter" width="500"] BALL DANCE: Chippa United’s Walter Maponyane is challenged by Platinum Stars’ Ndumiso Mabena in their Absa Premiership match at the Isaac Wolfson Stadium in Kwazakhele yesterday. Picture: BRIAN WITBOOI[/caption]
Win ends Chippa’s dry spell and avenges loss in previous encounter
A HAT-TRICK from second half substitute Lerato Manzini and a goal by Andile Mbenyane saw Chippa United clinch a vital 4-1 win against Platinum Stars in a Premier Soccer League fixture yesterday at a packed Wolfson Stadium in Kwazakhele.
Ndumiso Mabena scored the only goal for the visitors in the second half.
Yesterday’s win ended the Port Elizabeth side’s dry spell of five league games without a win.
But more importantly, the Chilli Boys avenged their 3-2 loss against Dikwena in the first round of the Premier League, and the four goals were enough to make sure that Chippa maintain a position in the top eight.
Ahead of the game, Chippa coach Dan “Dance” Malesela said his charges just needed one win and the other victories would come.
However, Chippa United will now have to dig deeper, as they are facing another tough encounter against Bidvest Wits, who ware second on the PSL log, on Saturday.
Yesterday, Chippa attacked from the onset and there were fireworks in the first 20 minutes.
They missed many chances before their opening goal.
Their first strike came as early as five minutes into the game through Xola Mlambo.
Chippa’s Buyani Sali also tried his luck at an opening goal, but his strike too was saved by Stars’ Senegalese goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul.
Stars did not take the attack lying down and Mduduzi Nyanda answered with his own strike, but it was stopped by goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi.
Minutes later, Mbenyane found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper and scored the opening goal.
The pace of the game quickly faded as the players seemed to be struggling with the strong wind.
The second half started dull, with little attempts on goal.
It was only in the last minutes that the game came into life with Manzini’s hat-trick.
- Mamelodi Sundowns stalled but were fortunate to avoid defeat in a goalless draw with Ajax Cape Town.
Sundowns inched up to 59 points, while Wits are on 55 with the two frontrunners still to go head-to-head next month.
They are now the only two sides who can win the league title.
Ajax, with just a single victory in their previous eight outings, should have had two goals in the first half with two superb chances, but both were squandered.
The first came after just 11 minutes, with Prince Nxumalo shooting in front of the goal, only for Denis Onyango to make a great save.
Twenty minutes on, there was an even better opportunity, but Isaacs missed from almost under the bar.
It took Sundowns until the 44th minute to get their first effort in on goal, when Leonardo Castro headed over a free kick.
Downs did better in the second half, although some stars looked jaded. – Additional reporting by Mark Gleeson
