Chippa, Arrows play to dull draw in PE

by Bertin Basson

Sunday Jan 21, 2018. 18:04

Chippa United and Golden Arrows shared the spoils in an Absa Premiership clash at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Sunday.

The rather uneventful encounter ended in a 0-0 draw, with the result taking the two team's respective stalemate tally to nine and 10 respectively in 18 league fixtures.

Clinton Larsen's men the first to break double digits in the draw column this season.

Mxolisi Macuphu conjured the first shot in anger with eight minutes on the clock following a defensive blunder. Arrows shot-stopper Nkosingiphile Gumede with a good save to spare his teammates blushes.

Gumede was on hand once more just short of the half-hour mark to keep out Thabo Rakhale's shot at goal. The Chilli Boys were the early aggressors in the Eastern Cape province, but Arrows would go closest to a goal soon after:

Danny Venter burst into the penalty box before taking a shot, but he was unlucky to see his effort canon off the woodwork from an acute angle with 37 minutes on the clock.

There was nothing the separate the two teams as they headed for the tunnel at the break, 0-0.

Clear-cut chances were few and for between in the second stanza despite intent from both teams to alter the scoreboard.

Zaphania Mbokoma threatened to change all that as he unleashed an effort on goal in the 73rd minute. The striker, though, watched on in agony as his shot whistled inches wide.

Venter came close to grabbing a late winner for Abafana Bes’thende in the 87th minute, but Daniel Akpeyi did well to tip his dipping free-kick over the crossbar as the two teams ultimately settled for a point apiece.

Chippa United (0) 0

Golden Arrows (0) 0

Chippa United: Akpeyi; Modisane, Mako, Macheke, Okwuosa, Mabaso, Mntambo, Lentjies, Macuphu, Rakhale (Sali 68'), Mashego (Mbokoma 23').

Golden Arrows: Gumede; Nonyane, Buthelezi, Mngwenge, Mzava - Zuke, Bilankulu (Shongwe 58') - Ndwandwe (Magubane 58'), Venter, Mahachi (Molefe 85') - Mutizwa.