Former Champions CAPS United continued their inconsistent run as they hit another brick wall in the form of a rejuvenated Shabanie Mine, as Harare City turned on the style and FC Platinum marched on in a mixed bag of Castle Lager Premiership action yesterday.
Ishemunyoro Chingwere saw Caleb Masocha’s first-half brace and Farai Mususunye’s powerful strike ensure Shabanie Mine collected three points from CAPS United in an exciting premiership match at Gwanzura yesterday.
Leonard Fiyado’s two goals in either half counted for nothing at the end of the day as the Green Machine rearguard which had George Magariro and an out-of-sorts Blessing Zabula failed to cope with the miners’ power- play.
United started the better side of the two, but were punished for fluffing the early chances that came their way when, in the 27th minute, Masocha capitalised on sloppy defending and fired in a low shot from just outside the box to beat an outstretched Tafadzwa Dube.
Five minutes later, Fiyado equalised from 22 metres out with a well-taken screamer that gave Victor Twaliki no chance, to soothe the troubled Makepekepe souls. Ten minutes before the breather, Masocha returned to haunt CAPS United with a counter attack.
Farai Mususunye made sure Taurai Mangwiro had plenty defensive flaws to point to at half time with a powerful strike that was helped into the net by a heavy Zabula deflection with just a minute before the break.
Mangwiro’s half time pep talk coupled with the introduction of powerful forward Tawanda Nyamandwe was not enough to inspire a comeback, but just a face server as Fiyado got his second in the 78th minute.
After the match, Masomere was all praises for his players. “I am really happy with the way we played and the teamwork we showed. The win also means we move away from the relegation zone,” said the self proclaimed doctor of football.
At Rufaro, Langton Nyakwenda witnessed Harare City bag three valuable points at the expense of inconsistent Chicken Inn in an exciting duel.
Former Monomotapa forward Osborne Mukuradare scored City’s winner. Chicken Inn’s Tomisani Sibelo had cancelled an early goal from the Sunshine Boys’ Chrispen Dickson to register a second win on the trot for Bigboy Mawiwi’s men.
Harare City were quick off the blocks, scoring in the second minute through Dickson whose free kick from the edge of the box took a slight deflection into the net.
Dickson turned from hero to villain in the 26th minute when he failed to clear a harmless ball into the box from Chicken Inn right back Sibelo confusing his keeper, Maxwell Nyamupangedengu whose only reaction was to pick the ball from the nets.
Mukuradare then restored the Sunshine Boys’ lead four minutes later when he slid home a powerful shot from Warriors winger Silas Songani. The goal was Mukuradare’s fourth of the season and second on the trot as the gunman was also on target in City’s 2-1 win over Black Mambas in midweek.
The visitors, whose top goal scorer, Tendai Ndoro, seemed to have left his scoring boots back in Bulawayo, felt hard done by the referee who denied them what looked like two clear penalties when Phineas Bamusi and Zibusiso Sibanda appeared to have handled in the box on separate occasions.
From Mandava, Paul Mundandi reports that Michelle Katsvairo capped off a fine birthday as his solitary goal gave FC Platinum maximum points as they dispatched newcomers Tripple B.
The win also gave the log leaders breathing space over second-placed Highlanders, albeit for a few hours, as the Bulawayo giants will be in action this afternoon. Both teams missed a glut of chances, with the home side the bigger culprit yesterday.