Report by Langton Nyakwenda in Mutare
Caps United . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Motor Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Caps United won 7-6 on penalties
Pre-match favourites Caps United survived by the skin of their teeth, thanks to the brilliance of man of the match Tafadzwa Dube, whose heroic saves on a busy Saturday afternoon propelled United to the Mbada Diamonds Cup quarter-finals in a nerve-wrecking contest at Sakubva.
The agile ’keeper, who walked away $500 richer courtesy of the sponsors, saved a penalty and made a couple of suicidal saves in regulation time as Caps United hung on by a thin thread to eventually win the gruelling contest in a sudden death penalty shoot-out.
A well-drilled youthful Motor Action side put on a stellar exhibition but their biggest letdown was substitute Emmanuel Mandiranga, who skied his spot kick in the dreadful sudden death.
The young forward wept uncontrollably as reality dawned on him that he had failed his teammates while Caps United players celebrated as if they had won a cup final.
You could feel sorry for the Mighty Bulls, whose fighting spirit and fine inter-play throughout the match belied their lowly position on the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League log standings.
Motor Action, who lost to United at the same stage in last year’s competition, had themselves to blame for failing to wrap up the game in regulation time, particularly in the first half and had to pay the price in a cruel manner.
The team finished tied 3-3 after the completion of the regulated spot kicks with Tendai Samanja, Ronald Pfumbidzai and Leonard Fiyado netting for Caps United while Godfrey Moyo, Ngoni Maviri and Walter Musona converted for Motor Action.
Exciting substitute Benson Maglasi missed Caps United’s opening spot kick and would be followed by an off-form Hardlife Zvirekwi on the casualty list. Veteran Motor Action full-back Douglas Walaza’s effort was smothered by Dube while Clive Sibanda’s effort crashed against the crossbar.
United captain Tapiwa Kumbuyani opened the scoring in sudden death before Passmore Bernard responded for The Bulls. David Rediyoni put the Green Machine in front again with a brilliant kick but Wisdom Mutasa sent Dube the wrong way, leaving the scores at 5-5.
When Caps United defender Tawanda Munyaduri and Motor Action’s Collins Dhuwa converted their kicks, it seemed the kicks would go on and on. It was now spine-chilling for both sets of takers, but Caps United’s unheralded centre-back, Steven Makatuka, kept his cool to put United in the driver’s seat.
The pressure was now on an inexperienced Mandiranga to level the scores, but the occasion proved too daunting for the rookie forward, who skied his effort, sparking wild celebrations from thousands of Makepekepe fans who had thronged Sakubva.
Caps United coach Taurai Mangwiro heaved a huge sigh of relief and admitted in the post-match interview that his team had survived by the skin of their teeth.
“We expected Motor Action to come out fighting because this game really meant a lot to them considering their indifferent form in the league. We were lucky to survive, especially in the first half, but the most important thing is we finally managed to progress,” said Mangwiro.
Samanja cleared from the line while Dube had to summon all his acrobatic abilities to tip over Mutasa’s dipping shot in a first half Motor Action ruthlessly dominated.
Motor Action coach Prince Matore felt his team deserved to walk away the victors. “It’s so disappointing to dominate a match for almost its entirety and only lose it in penalty shoot-outs.
“The youngsters played their hearts out, tried everything but they found Caps United ’keeper Dube in brilliant form,” said Matore. Mbada Diamonds Cup official Thomas Lusiano praised both teams for giving full value to the thousands of supporters.
“We are happy that it was all happening here in Mutare where we harness the diamonds for the people. Everyone benefits in this tournament, fans paid a single dollar into the stadium and the action was thrilling,” said Lusiano.
Teams
Caps United: T. Dube, T. Kumbuyani, R. Pfumbidzai, L. Fiyado, S. Makatuka, T. Samanja, M. Muchenje (B. Maglasi 52nd), R. Kutsanzira (D. Rediyoni 75th), D. Chungwa (T. Nyamandwe 32nd), H. Zvirekwi, T Munyanduri.
Motor Action: M. Jani, S. Hadebe (E. Mandiranga 73rd), P. Bernard, C. Sibanda, D. Walaza, W. Mutasa, C. Kwaramba, Y. Ebabali (C. Dhuwa 86th), G. Moyo, N. Maviri, W. Musona.