SuperSport United 2-2 Chippa United: Red-hot Grobler edges closer to Matsatsantsa record

SuperSport United failed to maintain their winning run in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) as they drew 2-2 with Chippa United at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Wednesday evening. 

Andile Mbenyane and Maloisane Mokhele netted for the Chilli Boys, while Matsatsantsa scored through Thamsanqa Gabuza and Bradley Grobler, who made it six goals from four league matches. 

Matsatsantsa were targeting their fourth successive victory in the league having ended 2020 with a 3-1 win over Baroka FC in an action-packed encounter which was played in Polokwane.

Grobler, Gabuza and Ghampani Lungu were deployed as the front three by coach Kaitano Tembo, while Luke Fleurs, who netted an own against Baroka, kept his place in the team.

Meanwhile, the Chilli Boys were desperate to end their five-match winless run in the league which saw the club dismiss coach Lehlohonolo Seema, who has since been replaced by Dan Malesela.

Malesela, who is back at Chippa for his fourth stint‚ handed club's stalwart Mbenyane his second appearance of the season, while Isaac Nhlapo marshalled the visitors' defence.

SuperSport applied some pressure on the Chippa defence from the first whistle and they came close to breaking the deadlock through Lungu.

The Zambia international's superb acrobatic attempt at goal was fantastically denied by Ayanda Mtshali as the Chippa goalkeeper pulled off a reflex save and the visitors cleared their lines.

Mtshali was the busier of the two keepers as he parried away an effort from his teammate Nhlapo, who nearly netted an own-goal, before coming off his goal-line to deny Kudakwashe Mahachi.

However, Chippa grew in confidence as the match progressed and they broke the deadlock seven minutes before half-time following a brilliant team move which was started and finished off by Mbenyane. 

The 32-year-old forward pounced and scored from close range to make it 1-0 to Chippa after SuperSport keeper Ronwen Williams had failed to parry Mokhele's low shot away from danger.

Chippa were then able to contain SuperSport and the score was 1-0 to the visitors at the interval.

Grobler, who was just three goals away from becoming SuperSport's all-time leading goalscorer, looked lively after the restart as the home side pushed for the equalizing goal. 

The Bafana Bafana international's goal-bound effort was deflected wide, before he netted with a looping header from Sipho Mbule's cross - making it 1-1 in the 49th minute.

It was his 56th goal for the Tshwane giants and he also became the league's top scorer this season with eight goals from eight matches. 

Malesela then made a triple substitution as he produced the attacking trio of Thabiso Lebitso, Bienvenu Eva Nga and Kurt Lentjies as visitors looked to restore their lead.

However, it was the Tembo's substitute Jamie Webber, who made an immediate impact as he grabbed an assist in the 87th minute when his corner-kick was headed home by Gabuza to make it 2-1 to SuperSport. 

The goal did not deter the Chilli Boys as they railed and they snatched a late equalizing goal through Mokhele's well-taken shot to make it 2-2 with three minutes left on the clock.

Mokhele's goal ensured that the match ended in a 1-1 draw as SuperSport and Chippa shared the spoils on the day.

The draw saw SuperSport remain third on the league standings - five points behind joint leaders Swallows FC and Mamelodi Sundowns, while Chippa also remained 14th on the log.

SuperSport are set to travel to Mpumalanga where they will face TS Galaxy in a league clash on Saturday, while Chippa are scheduled to face Lamontville Golden Arrows in Durban on the same day.