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Cape Town - A late first half penalty by Kingston Nkhatha denied Chippa United the full three points when they drew their Absa Premiership match 1-1 on Sunday afternoon at Peter Mokaba Stadium.
On the other hand, the visitors found the back of the net through Joseph Molangoane to ensure the Chilli Boys didn’t go home empty handed.
Although the match had a dull beginning, United threatened after eight minutes when Nkhatha nearly scored when goalkeeper Ayanda Masiko failed to handle the ball as it bounced off his chest, but United quickly cleared the danger
After good interplay from the visitors in the 16th minute, Molangoane found the back of the net when he received a great cross from the right by Diamond Thopola.
The pass picked out Molangoane alone on the far post to easily slot the ball home, beating keeper Ronwen Williams.
However, four minutes later, Masiko was awake to deny Jeremy Brockie a wonderful chance to make it 1-1 as he punched the ball away for a corner.
Dan Malesela's men wasted an opportunity to make it 2-0 when Rhulani Manzini blasted his shot over the crossbar in the 22nd minute after putting pressure on the hosts' defence.
Although Stuart Baxter's charges tried to retain the ball, they were easily dispossessed and Thopola unleashed a powerful shot in the 27th minute on the edge of the box but Williams was equal to the task and saved for a corner.
Just after the half-hour mark, Nkhatha was a menace for the Chilli Boys’ defence and his shot was saved by Masiko for the second time as he initially spilled the ball.
On the stroke of half time, United pulled one back making it 1-1 when Thuso Phala made a great run and took a shot, but skipper James Okwuosa was adjudged to have handled the ball.
The referee pointed to the spot and Nkhatha converted, beating Masiko, and it was 1-1 at half time.
Following good ball possession, Thopola attempted to beat Williams from a distance but his effort went wide in the 57th minute.
In the 76th minute Brockie was set up by substitute Fagrie Lakay and the New Zealand international failed to direct his effort on target as it sailed wide.
With 10 minutes to go, too many touches in the box by Walter Maponyane let him down following a sweet lay off by Molangoane, with the shot going off target.
The introduction of Lakay by Baxter uplifted United but they failed to penetrate Chippa's defence and both sides shared the spoils.
