CAPS United wake up to silence Triangle

From Grace Chingoma in Triangle

Triangle…………………………………………..….0

CAPS United…………………………………..(0) 1

VETERAN goalkeeper Tafadzwa Dube was the hero of the day for the Green Machine as he made a couple of point blank saves before the visitors woke up from their deep slumber to grab a late winner and silence newboys Triangle in a Castle Lager Premiership tie at Gibbo. 

It was a heartbreaking and cruel defeat for Gishon Ntini’s men who had seemed to have been holding out for at least a draw. Former Monomotapa man Joseph Mutambiranwa rose from the bench in the 65th minute to find the priceless goal that ended CAPS United’s two match winless run.

Mutambiranwa, who came in for Leonard Fiyado, got possession from outside the box and drilled the ball home 10 minutes from time. Although Mutambiranwa’s goal ensured it was CAPS United who walked away with the three points, goalkeeper Dube was the Green Machine’s unsung hero of the day.

Dube recovered from a near costly mistake in which he parried the ball into his goal when trying to turn it out for a corner to deny Triangle’s Nhamo Lameck from a fine free-kick in the 24th minute.

Blessing Maziwisa, younger brother to FC Platinum’s leading marksman Nelson, could have given his side the lead in the 79th minute when he got to the end of a good cross by Lameck, but his finishing was poor.

As if the hosts were being punished for that wasted chance, CAPS United got their winner from a counter raid on the other end. Former CAPS United coach Ntini had vowed to upstage the Harare side, but the outspoken gaffer was left to concede defeat and said his team had given it their best on the day.

“We played very well and we could not have played any better football than this. I think CAPS United got their goal from one of their two chances that they created while we had done everything but missed our chances.

“It’s very unfortunate because we missed chances but football sometimes is very cruel,” said Ntini.

Ntini, who learned his coaching ropes at CAPS United where he started as a juniors’ coach before taking over the first team, also threw three of his five players who have previous links with Makepekepe. Veteran defender David Sengu, Tineyi Meda and Silas Chihota while he rested Limited Chikafa and Courage Denias.

For CAPS United, the victory was morale booster ahead of the Harare Derby showdown against Dynamos at Rufaro on Sunday, but their assistant coach Brenna Msiska admitted that Triangle gave them a good run for their money.

“It was a very tight game for us. Triangle created a lot of scoring chances but missed while we created a few chances and managed to utilise just one of them. The victory is a morale booster ahead of the Harare derby and apart from the injuries and suspensions, I think we should be ready for the match,” said Msiska.

Msiska believes that CAPS United could continue to get positive results from now on.

“We are now in the right direction. During the game we did not want to rush our efforts, but wanted to beat them on the break. Our midfield was not playing well and that’s why we ended up playing with three strikers in the game,” said Msiska.

The former Zimbabwe and CAPS United goalkeeper also paid tribute to their travelling band of fans who made their presence felt a packed Gibbo. The Herald

Teams:

Triangle: B. Chapula, J. Zembe, B. Chimwamuchere, W. Mapfumo, C. Ngondonga, D. Sengu, T. Chipunza, S. Chihota (T. Muyendi 62nd min), W. Gondo, (T. Meda 81st min), N. Lameck, R. Kawondera (B. Maziwisa 53rd min)

CAPS United: T. Dube, T. Khumbuyani, R. Pfumbidzai, T. Munyanduri, G. Magariro, D. Mukandi, H. Zvirekwi (S. Makatuka 86th min), T. Mahori (M. Muchenje 53rd min), L. Fiyado (J. Mutambiranwa 65th min), D. Chungwa, T. Nyamandwe.