Chippa United and Stellenbosch FC remain marooned at the bottom after stalemate

Hosts Chippa United and Stellenbosch FC settled for a goalless draw in East London on Sunday in a game that exemplified the struggles that have left them marooned at the bottom of the Betway Premiership.

Chippa had hoped to use their home advantage to spark a turnaround and, despite the passionate support from their fans, they were unable to penetrate the opposition’s defence. Still, the match delivered a small consolation: Chippa achieved their first clean sheet of the season after nine games. They remain bottom of the table with only six points.

Stellenbosch, too, came into the match in dire need of points but were equally unable to find the back of the net. They also sit on six points from nine matches. A series of missed opportunities and near-misses highlighted their struggles in front of goal, leaving coach Steve Barker to ponder the effectiveness of their attacking strategy as they attempt to steer clear of the relegation zone.

From the outset, Stellenbosch demonstrated their intent to dominate, enjoying the lion’s share of possession for much of the first half. However, their struggles in the final third ultimately defined the match. Their approach, characterised by deep build-up play and a desire to push forward, seemed promising.

Yet, despite an array of creative options, the team frequently failed to convert possession into clear scoring opportunities. Passes fizzled out just outside the penalty area, illustrating a frustrating impotence in the striking zone.

Chippa, meanwhile, showcased resilience and efficient counter-attacking tactics, attempting to capitalise whenever they had the ball. While their overall possession was limited, their swift and incisive forays forward kept Stellenbosch defenders alert, particularly when they pushed into dangerous areas near the penalty box.

In the latter stages of the first half, Chippa’s man-marking became far more evident, disrupting Stellenbosch’s attacking rhythm. The home side benefitted from this tactical tweak, proving particularly effective down the right flank, where they managed to get around their opponents and deliver a few dangerous crosses — none of which were converted.

Clearly, a change in game plan was needed to improve on the meagre statistic of just one shot on target from each team in the first half. The early second-half play was scrappy, and while both sides managed more penetrative movements, they still failed to fashion clear scoring chances. Substitutions helped inject pace into the match, but defences remained largely untroubled.

Just past the hour mark, both rearguards showed signs of cracking, but wayward finishing kept the deadlock intact as the match wound to its conclusion.

Meanwhile, Siwelele FC finally broke their seven-game winless curse, defeating Marumo Gallants 1-0 in a historic Bloemfontein derby.

The atmosphere at the Petrus Molemela Stadium was highly charged, with emotions boiling over towards the end. Siwelele claimed a first-half lead thanks to a goal by ex-Kaizer Chiefs striker, and that single strike proved to be the match-winner.