Chippa United held AmaZulu FC to a 1-1 draw in a controversial DStv Premiership match played at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Gqeberha on Saturday night.
Despite the draw, the Chilli Boys moved up to the sixth spot on the league standings and they will be hoping to return to winning ways when they take on Cape Town City on November 7 in a league clash.
AmaZulu, on the other hand, also climbed up the standings as they are now placed eighth and they will be targeting a spot in the Carling Knockout semifinals when they face Golden Arrows on November 4.
Usuthu started the match brightly and they deservedly took the lead when Mbongeni Gumede netted from close range to make it 1-0 to AmaZulu with the Chilli Boys defence caught ball watching.
The hosts pushed for the equalising goal which saw Siphelele Luthuli force goalkeeper Veli Mothwa into making a smart save on the stroke of halftime and the score was 1-0 to AmaZulu at the interval.
An eventful second-half followed as Chippa were reduced to 10 players when one of their key players, Thabiso Lebitso was shown a straight red card for violent conduct four minutes before the hour-mark.
Despite being numerically disadvantaged, the hosts continued to launch attacks and they grabbed a controversial equalising goal in the 78th minute to make it 1-1. Mothwa netted an own goal after being pushed by Elmo Kambindu.
Kambindu was then sent off in stoppage time after receiving his second yellow card of the game with Chippa being reduced to nine players and ultimately, the encounter ended in a 1-1 draw.