SuperSport United missed out on the chance to reclaim second place in the DStv Premiership after they were beaten 1-0 by Chippa United at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Tuesday night.
Gavin Hunt’s side looked set to hold on for a point with just 10 men before Elmo Kambindu struck five minutes from time to clinch a third victory of the season for the Chilli Boys, who moved up to fourth position.
Matsatsantsa remained a point behind Golden Arrows in third spot after losing for the second time in three matches.
Chippa were seeking their first home win of the campaign after picking up just two points from their opening four games in Gqeberha, while SuperSport looked to cut the gap to Mamelodi Sundowns at the top of the table to five points.
The visitors carved out an early opening when Gamphani Lungu cleared the target from inside the box on the right following a corner in the fifth minute, but Morgan Mammila’s side would create the majority of the chances in the first half.
Thabiso Lebitso tested Ricardo Goss with a strike from range on 21 minutes before Augustine Mulenga lashed a shot wide of the far post from inside the area four minutes later.
Kambindu, who bagged a match-winning brace against Richards Bay last time out, saw a long-range effort drift to the left of the goal in the 29th minute and he managed to hit the target with his next attempt on 32 minutes as Goss made a routine save.
Stanley Nwabali was called into action for the first time in the final minute of the half to deny Bradley Grobler after he had been picked out inside the box by Lungu, while Terrence Dzvukamanja threatened shortly after the restart when he fired wide of the near post from inside the area on the left.
Matsatsantsa then suffered a setback with the dismissal of Thulani Hlatshwayo on 51 minutes after he received a second yellow card, having been booked towards the end of the first half.
But they almost took the lead four minutes later through Dzvukamanja, who pulled his shot inches past the right post from range, although Chippa slowly began to turn the screw as the second half progressed.
Azola Ntsabo drew a fine save out of Goss after lining up a shot from range in the 71st minute before Siphelele Luthuli also gave the goalkeeper some work to do with a strike from inside the box moments later and Justice Chabalala steered a header over the crossbar from the resulting corner.
The pressure finally told in the 85th minute when Luvuyo Memela played Kambindu through on goal and the Namibian striker held his composure to beat Goss from inside the area.
Kambindu nearly turned provider three minutes later as he looked to return the favour for Memela, who drew a comfortable save out of Goss after being found in space outside the area.
Chippa United (0) 1 (Kambindu 85′)
SuperSport United 0
Chippa United: S. Nwabali, Z. Mdunyelwa, R. Pietersen, J. Chabalala, A. Ntsabo, T. Lebitso (C. Martin 82′), G. Mosele (S. Luthuli 71′), B. Majogoro, A. Mulenga (R. Maarman 59′), L. Memela, E. Kambindu.
SuperSport United: R. Goss, I. Okon, S. Xulu, T. Hlatshwayo, R. Pfumbidzai, G. Lungu, G. Margeman, L. Lakay (J. Matsio 75′), G. Moralo (S. Cambell 88′), B. Grobler (E. Ighodaro 89′), T. Dzvukamanja (K. Bezuidenhout 75′).
SOURCED FROM THE PSL WEBSITE.
