MDANTSANE, December 17 (ANA) – Chippa United eased to a 2-0 win over struggling Highlands Park at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium outside of East London on Saturday afternoon.
It was a well-deserved win for mid-table Chippa, who looked composed on the ball and were clinical with their chances, while Gordon Igesund’s Highlands Park continue to flounder just above the drop zone after their three-match unbeaten spell was ended.
The home side dominated the opening half, enjoying far more ball possession and looking the greater threat in attack.
The Chilli Boys were nearly ahead after only four minutes, but Thamsanqa Sangweni was unlucky to see his crisply-struck free kick smash off the woodwork with goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini rooted to the spot.
Highlands continued to give away free kicks in their own half on a regular basis as they found the pace and movement of Dan Malasela’s men tough to deal with.
And it was from a set-piece that Chippa took the lead on 24 minutes, Katlego Mashego’s effort taking a sizable deflection off former Sundowns team-mate Surprise Moriri and into the net.
Mashego nearly doubled the lead six minutes later from the same source, but this time Kapini did superbly to dive across and stop the ball from going into the top corner.
Highlands Park were to have the first opportunity of the second half, but home keeper Daniel Akpeyi did well to parry Lindokuhle Mbatha’s shot away from goal.
The visitors continued their positive play with some crosses into the box, but Akpeyi was on top of his game when called upon.
Having not really had their goal overly threatened, the hosts gave their lively supporters some more to cheer about when they doubled their advantage 17 minutes from time when Lerato Manzini fired in after Paseko Mako has done really well to create the chance.
Charlton Mashumba tried his best to pull a goal back for Highlands, but it was to be the home side’s day as they secured the 2-0 win in what was the first PSL game played in Mdantsane for 20-years – African News Agency (ANA).
