Port Elizabeth - Although they scored first through Siphiwe Tshabalala, Kaizer Chiefs lost their Absa Premiership tie 3-1 to Chippa United at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday evening.
As it happened: Chippa United 3-1 Kaizer Chiefs
On the other side, a brace from Lerato Manzini and a strike from Tshwarelo Bereng gave the Chilli Boys the advantage.
In the wake of the loss, Steve Komphela's men are now sixth on the log standings with 17 points.
Although both sides started on a high, there were no clear-cut chances in the opening 10 minutes, yet the hosts had a free-kick from which Marc van Heerden failed to hit the target.
However in the 15th minute, the hosts’ goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi, who was away from his line, failed to clear the ball convincingly and it fell to Tshabalala, whose finish made it 1-0.
Right on the half-hour mark, Khuzwayo produced a fine save to deny David Zulu’s well struck shot from distance.
The second stanza continued to thrill as the hosts pushed for an equaliser in the second stanza, but Amakhosi defenders Lorenzo Gordinho and ‘keeper Brilliant Khuzwayo stood firm to deny the Chilli Boys.
With 20 minutes remaining, Manzini pulled one back for the hosts as he headed home from a pin-point cross from Diamond Thopola on the right.
Two minutes later Bereng made it 2-1 to Dan Malesela's side when another cross from Thopola reached the winger unmarked on the left to easily beat Khuzwayo at his near post.
The Chilli Boys were not done yet when they made it 3-1 with four minutes to go when Manzini completed his brace after receiving a lay-off from Buyani Sali.
Manzini could have completed his hat-trick in the dying minutes of the tie when Sali again laid the ball off for him to finish, but the forward missed the ball completely.
For the hosts, the victory elevates them to the ninth spot on the log table with 13 points after 11 matches.
Chipppa United: (0) 3 (Manzini 70', 86', Bereng 72')
Kaizer Chiefs: (1) (Tshabalala 15')
Chipppa United: Akpeyi, Kama, Okwuosa(C), Thopola, Van Heerden (mako , Sangweni, Zuke, Lorch, Wambi (Bereng 11'), L. Manzini, Zulu (Sali 42')
Kaizer Chiefs: Khuzwayo, Xulu, Gordinho, Cardoso, Mphahlele, Katsande, Chirambadare, Maluleka, Lebese (Molangoane 74'), Tshabalala, Katsvairo (Manqele 63')