Cape Town Spurs still searching for first win as Chippa United come up trumps

Ronaldo Maarman scored the only goal of the hotly contested encounter at Athlone Stadium.

The newly-promoted side have now lost all four of their opening games of the current eason.

It was a first victory for the Chilli Boys though, after they started their campaign with three draws and only one loss, to Mamelodi Sundowns.

Spurs started brightly with Ashley Cupido forcing a good early save from Chippa goalkeeper Stanley Nwabili.

Chippa were also looking to create chances from the off, but Maarman was caught offside from Augustine Mulenga's through ball.

Cohen Stander had a goalbound header blocked for Spurs on 14 minutes as Luvuyo Phewa powered a shot just over the crossbar as the home side continued to look for an opening.

Cupido was looking lively and picked up a neat pass from Siyanda Msani only to fire in at Nwabili.

Spurs remained on the front foot but Cupido should have done better with his next effort, on 33 minutes, that he placed just wide of the left-hand upright.

And the miss proved to be costly as Maarman made no mistake from the outside of the Spurs box as he drilled home, with three minutes of the first-half remaining.

Chippa were first out of the blocks at the start of the second period with Ayabulela Konqobe firing in on goal, but Spurs stopper Neil Boshoff was equal to the effort.

Maarman then had two good chances to increase his team's lead but was denied by Boshoff before being crowded out by the Spurs defence.

Azola Ntsabo tried his luck from range on 54 minutes but was woefully wide, as Phewa worked hard to create a shot that Nwabili saved comfortably.

Both sides made a number of changes in a bid to effect the outcome of this tie, but it was Chippa who remained largely in control.

There were a few late scares, with Chumani Butsaka going as close as anyone with a late shot that was saved, as Spurs tried, ultimately in vain to steal a point, but it wasn't to be as they ended without a goal or a point so far this season.

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