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Chippa dash Pirates’ hopes of second spot

Clash ends in goalless draw

Sihle Ndebele Journalist
Bienvenu Eva Nga of of Chippa United challenges Innocent Maela of Orlando Pirates during the DStv Premiership 2021/22 match between Orlando Pirates and Chippa United at Orlando Stadium, in Soweto on the 27 April 2022.
Bienvenu Eva Nga of of Chippa United challenges Innocent Maela of Orlando Pirates during the DStv Premiership 2021/22 match between Orlando Pirates and Chippa United at Orlando Stadium, in Soweto on the 27 April 2022.
Image: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix

Orlando Pirates' dream to finish in second place in the DStv Premiership standings hit another snag after a goalless draw against Chippa United at Orlando Stadium on Wednesday.

While the draw did not help Pirates' cause, it's a crucial away point for Chippa, who are in a relegation battle. Chippa keeper Lloyd Kazapua pulled off a top-drawer save to deny Thembinkosi Lorch in a one-on-one situation in what was the match's best chance of a goal in the 76th minute. 

Pirates decided to keep the same starting line-up that inspired them to the CAF Confederation Cup semifinals at the expense of Tanzanian giants Simba at the same venue last Sunday. Like they did against Simba, Linda Mntambo replaced Abel Mabaso after the halftime hiatus.

The visitors looked rather rusty and lacked a sense of urgency whenever they were attacking. Pirates looked convincing on the ball but their off-the-ball work was not as impressive with spacing between some of the players upfront an issue.

Another Chippa undoing was that their central midfielders Sphesihle Mkhize and Sammy Seabi focused more on defending and hardly added numbers when they surged forward. The pair's defensive approach left a hole in the engine room, allowing Pirates' Mabaso and Fortune Makaringe to dictate terms.

Sturdy Chippa striker and leading scorer Bienvenu Eva Nga tried to use his physique to bulldoze his way through but Olisa Ndah's tactical awareness made things difficult for him.  Ndah would be replaced by  skipper Happy Jele early in the second half, after sustaining what looked like a groin strain. 

Makaringe and Mabaso, before being withdrawn, played a number of diagonal balls, inviting players like Deon Hotto and Lorch on the flanks to run onto those balls. The pair managed to whip in a few crosses but their isolated striker, Kwame Peprah, who would later make way for Tshegofatso Mabasa, could not connect with those crosses in most cases.  

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