Chippa edge SuperSport

Port Elizabeth - Xolani Maholo's first-half strike proved the difference as Chippa United clinched a 1-0 victory over SuperSport United at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday night.

The hosts started the match on the front foot, putting SuperSport under pressure after just two minutes of play as William Twala forced goalkeeper Ronwen Williams into making a diving save with a powerful from just inside the area.

SuperSport eventually mustered a response in the 14th minute, after surviving the early spell of pressure, but Bradley Grobler was unable to steer the ball on goal after Teboho Mokoena let fly with a powerful shot from range.

Chippa again went close to snatching the lead a few minutes later, but Williams was alert to the danger as he tipped Twala's curling free-kick over the bar for a corner.

At the opposite end of the pitch, the visitors tried their luck from long distance, but it was an easy save for Veli Mothwa as he snapped up Mokoena's speculative effort with relative ease.

And, just when it seemed like the first half would end goalless, the Chilli Boys finally broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute, Mahola firing a low shot into the right-hand corner from close range after latching onto a neat pass from Meshack Maphangule.

The second half proved to be a closely contested affair, with the opening 20 minutes spell of play offering up very little in the goalmouth action.

SuperSport kept plugging away as they went in search of an equaliser, but later efforts from Dean Furman and Grobler failed to find the back of the net as the Chippa defence held firm.

But try as they might, SuperSport were unable to eke out a late equaliser, with Furman's wayward strike from range capping off a drab performance from the visitors.

- TeamTalk Media