Chippa creep out of relegation zone

Johannesburg - Chippa United crept out of the Absa Premiership relegation zone on Sunday despite being held 1-1 at home in Port Elizabeth by draw specialists Highlands Park.

The goals came within three minutes just before half-time at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium with Sabelo Nyembe scoring for the visitors and Lerato Manzini equalising.

Drawing lifted Chippa one place to 14th, above Baroka on goals difference because they have conceded one less.

Chippa and Baroka have 21 points each and bottom club Maritzburg United 17 with six rounds remaining.

The club finishing last is automatically relegated and the second-last side goes into three-team play-offs for one top-flight place.

Relegation carries a heavy price in South Africa with the R300 000 monthly grant of second division teams only one fifth that of Premiership sides.

"We dominated the match but did not have much to show for it in the end," said Chippa United coach Clinton Larsen.

"This match proved that football can be a cruel game, although we did ourselves no favours with slow passing in the attacking third."

Highlands have drawn 12 of 24 league matches - two more than any of the other 15 Premiership teams.