Chippa United have confirmed Mamelodi Sundowns as 2022-23 DStv Premiership champions after they held SuperSport United 1-1 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday evening.

Matsatsantsa were the only remaining team with a mathematical chance of catching the league leaders, but this result against the Chilli Boys means that the Brazilians have secured a sixth successive championship with seven matches to spare – and without even kicking a ball on the domestic front this weekend.

Realistically, SuperSport had no hope of reeling in Sundowns and this result is more significant in terms of their ambition of finishing as runners-up (they find themselves level with both Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, who defeated Richards Bay and Stellenbosch FC respectively today), while the Chilli Boys will be satisfied with a point that lifts them five clear of the relegation playoff zone.

The teams traded half chances in the opening 20 minutes, with SuperSport looking dangerous from set pieces, while Chippa offered a threat on transition against a defence that was looking to squeeze higher up the field.

The hosts claimed the lead in the 21st minute via an excellent solo goal from Ronald Pfumbidzai, who picked up a pass from Abid Banda in central defence, surged inside Siyabonga Nhlapo and fired a low shot past the left-hand of goalkeeper Ricardo Goss for 1-0.

SuperSport enjoyed a strong spell of possession after going behind, but struggled to create anything which troubled the Chippa defence, only calling on goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to make simple catches and interceptions.

The Chilli Boys continued to look potent in counter attacking situations, though they often lacked composure and incision when trying to play the key pass, leaving the score at 1-0 as the teams went into the change rooms for half time.

The start of the second half brought changes for both teams, with SuperSport introducing Thamsanqa Gabuza, while Diego Appollis and Thabo Makhele came on for the Eastern Cape side.

Appollis almost doubled Chippa’s lead in the 52nd minute, getting on the end of a fine pass from Siphesihle Mkhize and sending a shot beyond Goss, but the ball rebounded off the base of the upright.

Matsatsantsa levelled the game in the 71st minute when Ghampani Lungu pushed into a pocket of space on the right of the penalty and fired off a shot which beat Nwabali at his near post for 1-1.

The Tshwane side pushed for a winning goal in what remained of the game and came closest to finding the net again in the dying minutes when Jamie Webber struck a low drive which was turned away for a corner, while the subsequent set piece saw Grant Margeman direct an effort on target which was cleared off the line. Gabuza also missed a last-gasp close-range header, leaving the game to end 1-1.

The teams will be back in DStv Premiership action next weekend, with SuperSport at home to TS Galaxy on Friday 7 April, while Chippa will play host to Orlando Pirates the following day.

Chippa United (1) 1 (Pfumbidzai 21’)
SuperSport United (0) 1 (Lungu 71’)

Chippa: Nwabali, Mdunyelwa, Pietersen, Banda, Pfumbidzai, Maphangule (Lebitso 89’), Poggenpoel, Maarman (Appollis 46’), Mkhize, September (Makhele 46’), Ighodaro (Mini 71’)

SuperSport: Goss, Nhlapo (Niang 59’), Hlatshwayo, Johannes, Bhasera, Ndlovu (Webber 59’), Maswanganyi (Ngoma 89’), Margeman, Lungu, Lepasa (Gabuza 46’), Grobler

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