Staff Reporter.
Chippa United fought back to hold Orlando Pirates to a 1-1 draw in a DStv Premiership match at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Tuesday night.
The draw elevated the Chilli Boys to the 10th spot in the league standings and they will be looking to record their maiden win of the season when they host Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday.
Pirates, on the other hand, are now placed fourth in the standings after they let their lead slip and they will now square off with Comoros’ Djabal Club in a CAF Champions League clash away on Saturday.
The Buccaneers got off to a bright start with the lively Relebohile Mofokeng causing havoc for the Chilli Boys’ defence with his incisive movement and link-up play in the home side’s half.
The 18-year-old attacker was directly involved when visitors broke the deadlock in the 24th minute as he set up Bandile Shandu who netted to make it 1-0 to Pirates who were leading at halftime.
Former Pirates attackers Ronaldo Maarman and Luvuyo Memela were introduced by Chippa head coach Morgan Mammila prior to the start of the second-half as the hosts looked to level matters.
However, it was Pirates loanee Goodman Mosele who grabbed the equalising goal as the tall midfielder beat goalkeeper Sipho Chaine to make it 1-1 with 25 minutes left on the clock.
Both teams then searched for a late winning goal in the latter stages of the encounter, but it never came and ultimately, the encounter ended in a 1-1 stalemate on the night.