Result: Polokwane City 2-0 Chippa United
Date: 04 January 2020
Venue: Peter Mokaba Stadium
Polokwane City ended a ten-match losing streak in all competitions after beating defeating a resurgent Chippa United side on Saturday afternoon.
The Chilli Boys head coach Norman Mapeza made only one change from their narrow win over SuperSport United before the festive break, as Silas Maziya replaced Thabo Rakhale, who has been linked with a January move away from the club and was not even on the bench.
Meanwhile, Rise and Shine head coach Clinton Larsen made two changes from their narrow loss against Mamelodi Sundowns, still without captain Jabulani Maluleke as Sibusiso Hlubi and Mohammed Anas came to the fore.
Polokwane were hoping the new year brings about positive change after they suffered nine straight defeats that condemned them to the bottom of the log and Chippa were looking to gain momentum after a brilliant run from late last year.
Mapeza made Chippa unrecognisable from the side that was flirting with relegation before he was appointed in October 2019, as he did not take too long to find the winning formula that saw them win four of their last five matches, the only blemish in that run being a goalless draw with Baroka FC.
Despite their resurgence before the festive break, the Eastern Cape side could not find the net in the first stanza that ended without goals, while the struggling Polokwane would have been pleased with keeping it tight at the back.
Chippa had a bad start to the second stanza as they were reduced to ten men eight minutes from the break after Boikanyo Komane picked up his second yellow card and he was sent off.
Rise and Shine took advantage of playing with an extra player in the 64th minute, as Salulani Phiri finally broke the deadlock for Larsen's charges.
City grew in confidence thereafter and went to on to get the second goal as Charlton Mashumba got on the score-sheet with 19 minutes remaining.
In the end, Rise and Shine held on to end a nine-game losing streak in the Absa Premiership and 10-match run overall.
