Gunners win, Kiglon hit rock bottom

By Ellina Mhlanga

Kiglon ………………………………..0

Gunners ……………………………..(1)1

Troubled Kiglon’s hopes of avoiding relegation were shattered yesterday when they lost to Gunners in a lively Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Rufaro.

 

Kiglon, who finished the game with 10 men after Arnold Chivheya received his marching orders in the 90th minute for a second bookable offence, put up a good show but their strikeforce was their biggest let down, as they failed to convert the chances that came their way.

Gunners found their solitary goal through Michelle Katsvairo in the 7th minute to the three priceless points which saw them moving one place up the ladder to sixth with 38 points.

Katsvairo buried the ball from the edge of the box, beating Kiglon’s goalminder Steven Chimusoro to give his team a deserved victory in a match that could have gone either way.

The defeat made life difficult for Kiglon who are sitting at the bottom of the table and face the chop at the end of the season with only five games remaining.

Kiglon could have taken the lead four minutes into the game when Last Chibwiro squared the ball for Nelson Mazivisa inside the box but Gunners goalkeeper George Chigova saved his effort.

Two minutes later they came back to haunt the Gunners’ defence when Yves Ebabali’s shot from close range was cleared by Jimmy Dzingai. After taking the lead, Gunners dominated the proceedings but slowed their pace as the game progressed.

They, however, could have doubled their lead in the 20th minute when Lloyd Masakusi beat Kiglon’s defenders inside the box but his shot found Chimusoro on guard.

Seven minutes later, Kiglon could have equalised but More Moyo’s shot went wide. Katsvairo could have scored his second goal of the afternoon in the 69th minute off a nice cross from Masakusi but he missed the ball. Kiglon searched for an equaliser in the second half but to no avail.

Kiglon coach, Maxwell Takaendesa Jongwe, said the defeat had worsened their plight in the league.

“It has become more and more difficult for us to stay up with this defeat. We did all we could do but unfortunately we lost. There were two shots (on target) in the first half and we could have scored. We had our chances but we didn’t score. It was just an unfortunate day. The players did well, in the first half in which we could have got a goal,” said Jongwe.

His counterpart, Moses Chunga, was satisfied with the result.

“We made it difficult for ourselves, we could have scored a couple of goals. We are not looking into numbers, at the moment we just want to enjoy ourselves. We are happy that we will be playing in the Premier League next season,” said Chunga.

Teams

Kiglon: S. Chimusoro, K. Mageja (B. Pamhirwa 81st minute), L. Chibwiro (B. Bvumbwe 81st minute), M. Moyo, M. Mususa, C. Machona, N. Mazivisa (P. Makuvaza 44th minute), A. Chivheya, P. Sithole, P. Muzondo, E. Ebabali.

Gunners: G. Chigova, L. Masakusi, Q. Amini, I. Lawe (P. Bamusi 59th minute), M. Katsvairo, J. Dzingai, P. Chinungwa, H. Zvirekwi, M. Muchenje, C. Sekete, A. Sadiki.