Bulawayo City stun CAPS United

By Ricky Zililo in Bulawayo

Bulawayo City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2) 3
CAPS United . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1

BULAWAYO City turned the magic on CAPS United and ran riot over their title chasing opponents in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League encounter at Barbourfields yesterday.

A brace by Trevor Ndlovu and a strike by Mkhululi Moyo secured maximum points for City, while CAPS United got their consolation from Devon Chafa during the referee’s optional time.

City started the match at an electrifying pace and should have shot into the lead in the first minute when midfielder Welcome Ndiweni sent Moyo through, but the lanky striker failed to beat big CAPS United goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda from close range.

Six minutes later, Moyo made up for his earlier miss by beating Sibanda with aplomb, firing home from the edge of the box.

City, who had congested the midfield, won most of the duels and forced CAPS United to back-pedal for the better part of the first half.

City’s midfield of Kelvin Madzongwe, skipper Xolisani Moyo, Trevor Ndlovu, Ndiweni and Lewis Ncube suffocated the visitors quartet of Joel Ngodzo, Devon Chafa, Moses Muchenje and Amos Kambanje, making it difficult for Lloyd Chitembwe’s men.

The only visible players on the pitch for CAPS United were Ngodzo and Hardlife Zvirekwi, who seemed determined to fight the battle while the rest looked clueless if not disinterested.

In the 40th minute, Ngodzo’s hard and low shot from the right went across the face of goal finding no takers.

Two minutes later, City doubled their lead through Ndlovu, who finished off a perfect move started by Ndiweni. The latter received a pass on the right side from Xolisani and then nutmegged Justice Jangano, as he ventured upfront exchanging passes with Mkhululi.

He got into the box and played a square pass to Ndlovu on the far side, who obliged by tapping the ball into an empty net.

CAPS United returned from the breather an improved side, playing some direct football and had their first attempt at City’s goal in the 64th minute through a long range shot from Jangano.

City immediately launched a quick counter attack and won a free-kick near the right corner after Carlton Munzabwa brought down Mkhululi in a desperate attempt to stop the striker.

Ncube sent in a good delivery that Xolisani headed onto the path of Ndlovu, whose shot beat a diving Sibanda dashing any hopes of a CAPS United come- back.

Veteran CAPS United forward Leonard Tsipa blew a perfect chance to reduce arrears in the 84th minute by completely missing the ball with only City’s keeper Ndodana Sibanda to beat.

Chafa then grabbed the consolation goal for CAPS United in injury time when his shot off a rebound went through a cluster of legs beating an obstructed Ndodana.

City’s caretaker coach Try Ncube heaped praise on his charges for “sticking to their game plan.

“It was a tough match, but we got our tactics right. We really needed three points and we knew that they were going to come at us so we were ready to soak pressure and break with pace,” said Ncube.

CAPS United assistant coach Mark Mathe reckoned that their erratic defending especially in the opening half had cost them the game.

“We’re really not happy conceding three goals. We could’ve defended better in the first half where we didn’t show desire to play. We will go back and work on our shortcomings,” said Mathe.

CAPS United’s defeat meant they fell further behind leaders FC Platinum as Chitembwe’s men have for the last three assignments in which the miners had been failing to win.

Teams:

Bulawayo City: Ndodana Sibanda, Morris Kadzola, Terency Majo, Nyasha Mukumbi, Zibusiso Sibanda, Kelvin Madzongwe, Xolisani Moyo, Trevor Ndlovu, Welcome ndiweni (Brighton Dube, 88th minute), Lewis Ncube (Eddie Nkulungo, 83rd minute), Mkhululi Moyo (Innocent Kutsanzira, 73rd minutes)

CAPS United: Edmore Sibanda, Hardlife Zvirekwi, Justice Jangano, Carlton Munzabwa, Stephen Makatuka, Devon Chafa, Moses Muchenje (Kudzanai Nyamupfukudza, 75th minute), Phineas Bamusi, Amos Kambanje (Valentine Musarurwa, 55th minute), Joel Ngodzo, Leonard Tsipa. The Chronicle