Maritzburg United managed to avoid a defeat and bagged a point when they drew 2-2 in their Absa Premiership match against Chippa United at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Goals by Joseph Philani Zulu and Evans Rusike allowed the Team of Choice to walk away with a point, but remain rooted at the bottom of the log table with 16 points from 22 matches.

On the other hand, Joseph Molangoane and Andile Mbenyane found the back of the net for the hosts to ensure they remain at No 6 with 33 points after 23 games.

Although both sides started slowly, it was the visitors who took the game to the Port Elizabeth-based side.

Just after six minutes of play, the Team of Choice opened the scoring when Zulu netted with a fine left footed finish giving the KwaZulu-Natal side the lead.

Despite the match becoming a tough contest in the middle of the park, the Chilli Boys managed to pull one back through Mbenyane when Ernst Middendorp's men conceded a set piece.

Mbenyane then capitalised on the error after a set piece taken by Erick Chipeta allowing the former skipper to score with his right foot.

With 11 minutes remaining on the clock, the Chilli Boys took the lead when Molangoane beat Glenn Verbauwhede with his right foot finish with an assist coming from Nkosinathi Mthiyane.

With one minute remaining to the interval, Maritzburg's forward Rusike rose to the occasion and the Zimbabwean scored with his right foot.

It was 2-2 at halftime.

After 20 minutes into the second stanza, United took a long range effort through Brian Onyango as he attempted to beat Daniel Akpeyi, but his shot was wide of target.

In the 67th minute, Mbenyane wasted a great chance to make it 3-2 when he received a pass, but his final shot failed to trouble the Belgian-born goalkeeper, Verbauwhede.

As time was running out, the Chilli nearly benefited when Middendorp's men failed to clear the danger and Buyani Sali took a shot, but he couldn't trouble Vebauwhede.

United managed to find the net when substitute Bandile Shandu scored, but the referee disallowed the goal as he was adjudged to have handled the ball.

In the dying stages of the tie, both outfits failed to create clear cut chances and they both walked away with one point apiece.

Chippa United: (2) 2 (Mbenyane 12', Molangoane 39')

Maritzburg United: (2) 2 (Zulu 6', Rusike 45')

Chippa: Akpeyi, Maponyane, Okwuosa, Chipeta, Mthiyane, Sali, Mbokoma (Mlambo 71'), Sangweni, R. Manzini (L. Manzine 79'), Mbenyane, Molangoane

Maritzburg: Verbauwhede, Teyise, Mogapi, Mngonyama (Shandu 68'', Booysen, Onyango, Mekoa M (Sanoka 31'), Lentjies (, Mekoa D, Rusike, Zulu.