MTNFootball

Free State Stars denied Chippa United their first Absa Premiership points when Moeketsi Mvula struck a late goal to hand the Ea Lla Koto a 2-1 win at Athlone Stadium.

Chippa United kicked off their first home game in front of a cold and wet crowd at Athlone Stadium, and they were immediately on the attack when Mfundo Shumana forced Kennedy Mweene to make a save through his shot in the 11th minute.

Twenty minutes in Paulos Masehe saw his effort fly over the bar, before a tactical change was made in the shape of Diego Brown replacing Philani Dlamini in the 27th minute.

The tactical shuffle didn’t make much of a difference, as the home boys found themselves a goal down a minute later, when Dove Wome made no mistake in heading the ball into the back of the net.

Their never-give-up attitude from last season once again proved crucial when Welcome Qalanto made no error in placing the ball into the back of the net, just after the half hour mark, to make it 1-1.

Mweene was having a stunner of a game and he continued to pull off saves in the dying minutes of the half.

No changes were made at the start of the second half but the first yellow card was shown when Luyolo Nomandela was added to the referee’s book in the 57th minute.

The tackles started to become more erratic and Maxwell Khubeka became the latest to be cautioned following a 63rd minute foul on Sadate Ouro-Akoriko.

Chippa’s coach wasn’t taking any chances as he once again opted for change when he replaced last season’s star player, Shumana, for Mxolisi Ntshingila five minutes later.

Soriola Gege was added into the frame when he took the place of Daniel Cardoso, before Chippa’s skipper Gift Sithole was shown yellow.

The newly promoted side, however, were dealt an evil hand in the 88th minute when substitute Moeketsi Mvula pounced on White’s mistake to hand the Stars a late winner.