Albert Marufu Sports Reporter Monomotapa . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1 Blue Ribbon . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 1
Monomotapa came from behind to force a draw against Blue Ribbon in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Gwanzura Stadium yesterday.
Charlton Mashumba had thrust Blue Ribbon into the lead seven minutes into the match, but Monomotapa’s late siege saw Obey Mwerahari equalising 11 minutes from full time.
Monomotapa coach Taurai Mangwiro praised his charges for their resilience in the second half, but blamed the players for giving away a simple goal. “We gave away a very silly goal. The guys diverted from our usual style of play in the first half, but in the second half they played our normal game. The future looks bright for the team,” he said.
His opposite number Misheck Chidzambwa blamed fatigue on his players’ performance especially in the second half where they allowed Monomotapa to dominate them.
“My players looked tired in the second half and I would like to believe that it was a result of fatigue since we played a game on Wednesday. However, a point earned is still good,” he said.
The poorly0-attended match saw Blue Ribbon playing their usual attacking football and were duly rewarded in the seventh minute when Mashumba took advantage of Tendai Ngulube’s mistake to fire past a stranded Tapiwa Mafunga.
Mafunga had flighted in a goal kick intended for Ngulube, who for reasons best known to him, headed the ball back to the goalkeeper, but the ball fell into the path of an alert Mashumba who headed the ball forward before firing past the outdrawn Mafunga much to the consternation of Monos’ technical team.
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Ronald “Rooney” Chitiyo and Makai Kawashu came close to equalizing for Monomotapa in the 34th minute but the duo surprisingly missed the ball with Blue Ribbon defence at sea.
The second half saw Monomotapa being the more offensive side and defender Brian Mapfumo was unlucky not to register his name on the scoresheet in the 51st minute when his full bloodied effort from outside the box hit the right upright post and the left upright post before bouncing back into the hands of Tapiwa Zvaita.
However, Zvaita was to be beaten in the 79th minute when Mwerahari latched on to a loose ball in the box to send his few supports into frenzy.
