CHIPPA STUN DOWNS
Chippa United provided arguably the biggest upset of the last 16 round in the Telkom Knockout after they defeated Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 at the Sisa Dukhashe Stadium on Sunday.
The result, which was secured by a second-half goal from Samuel Julies, saw the Chilli Boys claim both their first win in the TKO and a first victory in any competition against the Brazilians, who have now suffered three successive defeats across league and cup.
Sundowns created the first clear chance of the game 10 minutes in, with a fine long ball from Hlompho Kekana giving Thokozani Sekotlong a one-one-one chance with Daniel Akpeyi, but it was the Chippa goalkeeper who came out on top.
In fact, Sekotlong appeared to pick up a knee injury in that incident and, after trying to run off the knock, he was replaced by George Lebese just before the midway point of the first half.
In between the Chilli Boys had a great opportunity of their own, as a Kurt Lentjies effort was blocked by a defender but rolled into the path of Lerato Manzini, who was quickly closed down and denied by a brave save from Denis Onyango.
Those two one-on-one chances with the goalkeepers proved to be the only attacking highlights of the first half, but the second produced a great chance just three minutes after the restart, as Sundowns’ Motjeka Madisha put a free header just wide of the mark.
On 53 minutes there was another chance for the Brazilians, as Kekana chested down a ball in the box before shooting across the face of goal from a tight angle.
Ten minutes later, and against the run of play, Chippa broke the deadlock through former ‘Downs player Samuel Julies. The substitute arrived late at the far post to turn home Mpho Mvelase’s deflected cross from the right of the penalty area.
The opening goal allowed the game to be stretched in the final stages, as Sundowns began pushing men forward, which in turn gave Chippa the space to counter attack through their speedy players.
The hosts looked the likelier scorers in the final quarter hour of regulation time but wasted several promising attacking opportunities, while the Brazilians even resorted to playing the beanpole Wayne Arendse upfront, but their efforts were in vain.
Chippa United (0) 1 (Julies 63’)
Mamelodi Sundowns 0
Chippa: Akpeyi, Macheke, Okwuosa, Konqobe, Mpahanga, Mvelase (Masuku 70’), Mdlinzo, Mabaso, Mako, Lentjies (Bergman 76’), L. Manzini (Julies 62’)
Sundowns: Onyango, Morena, Soumahoro, Madisha, Hachi, Kekana, Manyisa, T. Zwane (Arendse 88’), Billiat, Sekotlong (Lebese 22’ [Castro 74’]), Tau
