By Grace Chingoma
CAPS United………………..(2) 2
Motor Action………………..(0) 1
HARARE – Gangly forward Tawanda Nyamandwe grabbed a vital first-half brace as CAPS United weathered a Motor Action storm in the second half to secure a morale-boosting Castle Lager Premier Soccer League win at Rufaro yesterday.
Nyamandwe, who arrived from Monomotapa in the close season, turned on a towering performance in attack to inspire CAPS United to a priceless win that gave them their first set of points this season.
CAPS United had got their campaign off to a losing start when they went down 1-0 to Harare City at the same venue on Thursday.
But in a lively Harare derby showdown that was pregnant with quality and left the enthusiastic crowd at Rufaro crying out for more, it was Nyamandwe, who turned on the style with his goals struck in the 27th minute and deep into first-half injury time.
Nyamandwe first beat ageless Motor Action goalkeeper Marlon Jani with a fierce angled shot that whistled past the former Warriors second choice goalminder.
The veteran CAPS United striker, who has also previously seen Premiership action at Kiglon and Dynamos, then ensured the Mighty Bulls would continue to chase the game when he found his second of the afternoon.
In typical goal poacher’s fashion Nyamandwe hooked the ball on the turn, with his back facing goal, defied the close attention of two Mighty Bulls defenders and let fly an effort that sneaked into the far corner, beating a diving Jani in the process.
Crucially, Nyamandwe made a huge defensive contribution on the other end when he flicked the ball over the bar after impressive goalkeeper, Tafadzwa Dube, had been beaten by a flighted ball in the dying stages of the game.
The Mighty Bulls, to their credit, did not drop their heads despite going two goals down at the break.
Motor Action returned a rejuvenated side in the second period and took the game to their opponents and will probably feel they could have at least snatched a point in the end had it also not been for Dube’s brilliance between the posts.
They pulled one back in the 58th minute when Louis Matawu benefited from a defensive blunder.
It was a quality game and just as well large parts of the continent were watching the game live on SuperSport 9 as the two teams fought long and hard and gave the fans full value for coming to Rufaro on Easter Sunday.
Even Warriors coach Klaus Dieter Pagels, who was watching the match felt that both teams were playing brilliant passing football and that he had identified two players that he might consider for his next camp.
The CAPS United fans celebrated this victory as if their team had just won the league title and having seen their team respond in style to the lacklustre show on Match Day One against Harare City, they had every reason to enjoy the victory.
Just the feeling of seeing their team sitting above bitter rivals Dynamos, who play their second match today, was priceless and Brenna Msiska and his players got a standing ovation at the end of this tie.
Motor Action gave as much as they got, in a blood-and-thunder showdown, and could have walked away with a point if they had someone as powerful and efficient as Nyamandwe upfront.
They are still trying to have the pair of returning son Clement Matawu and Dylan Chivandire registered while Congolese Yves Ebabali has not yet secured a renewal of his work permit.
Motor Action coach Joey Antipas, who is scheduled to leave today for Europe for coaching attachments, is hopeful that his team would have gelled into a unit by the time he returns.
The Mighty Bulls have a host of new players including Charles Chiutsa, Douglas Walaza and Itai Chiwara who were ironically offloaded by CAPS United during the close season. Antipas also felt Nyamandwe had made a big difference in yesterday’s game because of his aggressive style.
“Definitely, we are missing the cutting edge and once we get some of our players registered it should be better. l believe once we get the combinations right we would be okay. It is not a good start we have only picked one point in two matches and even today (yesterday) we started slowly.
“I am sure that by the time l return after eight weeks the team would be okay and winning matches,” said Antipas.
Msiska was happy with the way his charges performed against the Mighty Bulls.
“At least we got three points in two matches even though we were looking forward to six points. The level of fitness is not yet up there but it is coming up. If we play teams like Motor Action and perform like this there is hope that we may finish in the top four but we are still rebuilding and any result is acceptable,” said Msiska.
CAPS United skipper Tapiwa Kumbuyani could have drawn first blood in the 15th minute when he found himself in possession and going for the kill but Jani came off his line quickly to thwart the move.
The Mighty Bulls nearly equalised two minutes after CAPS United had scored via Nyamandwe but Motor Action defender — Charles Mutero — watched in agony as his powerful free kick was punched out by Dube. The Herald
Teams:
CAPS United: T. Dube, T. Kumbuyani, A. Chivheya, G. Magariro, R. Pfumbidzai, T. Samanja, H. Zvirekwi (P. Tafirenyika 72nd minute), R. Kutsanzira (G. Phiri 81st minute), T. Mahori (L. Fiyado 62nd minute), T. Nyamandwe.
Motor Action: M. Jani, D. Walaza, C. Mutero, P. Bernard, P. Sande, E. Tembo, J. Chitereki, L. Matawu, C. Chiutsa (T. Muparaganda 47th minute), M. Ncube (M. Mburayi 83rd minute), N. Maviri.
