AmaZulu FC were held to a 1-1 draw by Chippa United in a DStv Premiership match played at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Gqeberha on Saturday night.
The draw saw Usuthu move up on the league standings as they are now placed eighth and they will be eyeing a spot in the Carling Knockout semi-finals when they lock horns with Golden Arrows on November 4.
Usuthu started the match brightly and they deservedly took the lead when Mbongeni Gumede netted from close range to make it 1-0 to AmaZulu with the Chilli Boys defence caught ball watching.
The hosts pushed for the equalising goal which saw Siphelele Luthuli force goalkeeper Veli Mothwa into making a smart save on the stroke of half-time and the score was 1-0 to AmaZulu at the interval.
An eventful second-half followed as Chippa were reduced to 10 players when one of their key players, Thabiso Lebitso was shown a straight red card for violent conduct four minutes before the hour-mark.
Despite being numerically disadvantaged, the hosts continued to launch attacks and they grabbed a controversial equalizing goal in the 78th minute to make it 1-1. Mothwa netted an own goal after being pushed by Elmo Kambindu.
Kambindu was then sent off in stoppage time after receiving his second yellow card of the game with Chippa being reduced to nine players and ultimately, the encounter ended in a 1-1 draw.
Chippa (0) 1 (Mothwa 78′)
AmaZulu (1) 1 (Gumede 27′)
Chippa: Nwabali, Pietersen, Chabalala, Modise (Kammies 78′), Mdunyelwa, Luthuli (Maarman 62′), Mosele, Mulenga, Lebitso, Kambindu, Mqokozo (Poggenpoel 62′).
AmaZulu: Mothwa, Mphahlele (Mabiliso 39′), Gumede, Sikhakhane, Hanamub (Letsoalo 87′), Jooste, Motshwari, Ngema (Ekstein 87′), Brooks (Human 87′), Moremi (Mbanjwa 77′), Kwem.
