Cape Town - Chippa United came from behind to secure a crucial point as they drew 1-1 with Ajax Cape Town at the Phillipi Stadium on Saturday night.
It was a game of two halves as Ajax enjoyed the better of the first stanza, taking a one goal lead into the break.
Chippa had the first chance of the game, with Issa Sarr sending his 11th minute header wide, following William Twala’s corner kick.
A minute later and Ajax were in front, Mabuthi Khenyeza netting from six yards out after Tashrique Goldman had failed to get a hold of Khama Billiat’s deflected cross.
Ajax kept the pressure on Chippa and could have been in for a second if Billiat’s control had not let him down.
The home side struggled to mount any kind of a comeback as the Urban Warriors grew in confidence, stroking the ball around, making the Chilli Boys do the running.
Chippa were however able to make a couple of inroads in attack, but Brent Carelse’s cross was wayward, while Andile Mbenyane sent a free kick over the bar.
Carelse almost played William Twala in on goal with a clever through ball 10 minutes before the break but Ajax keeper Sean Roberts was alert, rushing off his line to reach the ball first..
The home side looked dangerous after the restart, with Benjani Mwaruwari close to scoring in the 47th minute as his powerful drive was pushed onto the post by Roberts.
The Urban Warriors then suffered a 62nd minute setback when Abia Nale was forced to leave the field after picking up his second caution on the evening.
His sending off resulted in a shift in the balance of play as the Chilli Boys began to pour forward in numbers, with Mbenyane firing a shot from inside the box over the bar before his rasping drive from some distance was acrobatically tipped over the bar by Roberts.
Ajax were floundering by this stage, and it came as no surprise when the PSL rookies drew level, Welcome Qalanto smashing the ball home from close range after Mwaruwari had guided a header across the goalmouth.
Chippa were all over their opponents in the final minutes, but could not score again, Mbenyane could have won it late on for Ajax, but he smashed an 89th minute.
It was a game of two halves as Ajax enjoyed the better of the first stanza, taking a one goal lead into the break.
Chippa had the first chance of the game, with Issa Sarr sending his 11th minute header wide, following William Twala’s corner kick.
A minute later and Ajax were in front, Mabuthi Khenyeza netting from six yards out after Tashrique Goldman had failed to get a hold of Khama Billiat’s deflected cross.
Ajax kept the pressure on Chippa and could have been in for a second if Billiat’s control had not let him down.
The home side struggled to mount any kind of a comeback as the Urban Warriors grew in confidence, stroking the ball around, making the Chilli Boys do the running.
Chippa were however able to make a couple of inroads in attack, but Brent Carelse’s cross was wayward, while Andile Mbenyane sent a free kick over the bar.
Carelse almost played William Twala in on goal with a clever through ball 10 minutes before the break but Ajax keeper Sean Roberts was alert, rushing off his line to reach the ball first..
The home side looked dangerous after the restart, with Benjani Mwaruwari close to scoring in the 47th minute as his powerful drive was pushed onto the post by Roberts.
The Urban Warriors then suffered a 62nd minute setback when Abia Nale was forced to leave the field after picking up his second caution on the evening.
His sending off resulted in a shift in the balance of play as the Chilli Boys began to pour forward in numbers, with Mbenyane firing a shot from inside the box over the bar before his rasping drive from some distance was acrobatically tipped over the bar by Roberts.
Ajax were floundering by this stage, and it came as no surprise when the PSL rookies drew level, Welcome Qalanto smashing the ball home from close range after Mwaruwari had guided a header across the goalmouth.
Chippa were all over their opponents in the final minutes, but could not score again, Mbenyane could have won it late on for Ajax, but he smashed an 89th minute.