CHIPPA UNITED EDGE OUT BAROKA
Chippa United overcame Baroka FC 1-0 in an Absa Premiership match at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane on Saturday afternoon.
The victory took the Chilli Boys to 14th place on the league standings, while Bakgaka dropped to 11th on the table.
The Chilli Boys and Bakgaga both struggled to create goal-scoring opportunities in the opening stages of the encounter.
Andile Mbenyane, who is one of the longest-serving players in the Chippa squad, was deployed upfront just ahead of Kurt Lentjies and Mark Mayambela.
Former Orlando Pirates trainer Eric Tinkler was taking charge of his first competitive game as Chippa head coach having replaced Dan Malesela.
The hosts were struggling to penetrate the Baroka defence which was marshalled by Tanzania international Abdi Banda, who is a tough central defender.
The visitors’ attack spearheaded by Ranga Chivaviro, who had netted his first goal for Baroka when they drew 1-1 with Highlands Park in a league match last month.
Bakgaga were able to contain the Chilli Boys until the match referee blew the halftime whistle.
The score was 0-0 at the interval following a first-half which was dominated by Chippa, but they could not convert the chances that they converted.
Baroka came back rejuvenated following their first-half team talk with former Zambia national team head coach Wedson Nyirenda.
Tinkler reacted by introducing Thabo Rakhale in the 69th minute as Chippa looked to retain control of the game and open the scoring in Mdantsane.
The momentum was with the Chilli Boys in the closing stages of the game and they managed to grab a late winning goal through Andile Mbenyane.
The former Ajax Cape Town player beat Baroka goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze to make it 1-0 to Chippa with four minutes left on the clock.
Chippa were able to hold on to their slender lead in the dying minutes of the game and ultimately they emerged 1-0 winners over Baroka on the day.
Chippa 1
Mbenyane 86′
Baroka 0
Chippa: Akpeyi, Macheke, Tlolane, Nsabiyumva, Nthethe, Komane, Malepe, Mayambela, Klate (Rakhale 59’), Lentjies (Manzini R 71’), Mbenyane (Sali 90’).
Baroka: Chipezeze, Kgoetyane, Makume, Banda, Gebhardt (Mabeba 44’), Maliba, Mdantsane, Kgaswane, Makgaka (Patjie 44’), Chawaphiwa (Makgantai 37’), Chivaviro.
