Mpumalanga Black Aces gained promotion into next season’s Absa Premiership after they played Chippa United to a 0-0 draw at Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday evening. The result means Chippa will spend next season in the National First Division after they ended the round robin play-off tournament on just five points. The Witbank outfit came into the game knowing that a draw would hand them promotion to next season’s Absa Premiership campaign and they were out to secure their fate with a game to spare. The opening ten minutes saw an even spread of possession between the two teams before Aces’ defence was called into duty when Zamaxolo Ngabo had to clear away a looping ball into the box. Aces were then dealt a blow as early as the 14th minute, when Enrico Adolph had to come off due to injury to be replaced by Omar Hendricks. Then, in the 22nd minute, William Twala tried an audacious cross-cum- shot effort into the box, but it proved useless as it fell comfortably into the arms of Bafana Nhlapo. The visitors were then given a chance off a set-piece four minutes later following a foul on Thabo Qalinge. Hendricks stood up to take the set-piece but his effort failed to hit the target as it sailed round the post. Ngebo wasted the perfect opportunity to put Chippa in front before the break when he headed a cross onto the post in the 40th minute - a colossal error given the goalkeeper was well out of position. Chippa made a change from the restart by bringing on Mkhanyiseli Siwahla in place of Sindiso Nqothanani, while the substitute Welcome Qalanto had his shot saved by the goalkeeper. Nhlapo was tested on several occasions and he continued to do well when he got on the end of Siwahla’s cross in the 65th minute. Chippa continued to peg Aces back for a large portion in the second half, but a combination of wasted chances and fluffed away saves by Nhlapo left the scoreline goalless. It was all or nothing for the Chilli Boys and Mark Harrison looked to spice things up by introducing Stanton Lewis in place of the defender Vuyisile Ntombayithethi. Chippa had a strong penalty appeal brushed away in the 80th minute when Ngebo went to ground in the box. As a result, the ball then swiftly found its way to Dennis Masina in a one-on-one with the Tashrique Goldman, but the Chippa shot-stopper did well to make the save. It was all Chippa in the remaining minutes of the game but they couldn’t find the deadlock breaking goal that would save them from relegation. Chippa United: Goldman, Ntombayithethi (Lewis 75’), Gilbert, Mvalo, Okwuosa, Sarr, Mbekile (Qalanto 56’), Twala, Sindiso (Siwahla 46’), Mbenyane, Ngebo Mpumalanga Black Aces: Nhlapo, Motaung, Adolph (Hendricks 14’), Ngalo, Rooi, Zuke, Mmuso, Mosikidi (Hills 52’), Mtsweni, Sibisi, Qalinge (Masina 77’)
Posted on: Thu, 27 Jun 2013 05:28:16 +0000
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