CAPS United………………(1) 3 Highlanders……………….(1) 1
CAPS United fans broke into the song Lodza ndibaba after their side came from behind to beat arch rivals Highlanders in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at the National Sports Stadium Sunday.
Highlanders had drawn first blood barely three minutes into the match through Graham Ncube, but Ashley Rambanapasi cancelled the lead two minutes before half time when he took advantage of goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda’s failure to deal with Evans Gwekwerere’s cross from the right.
Pride Tafirenyika (69th minute) and Gwekwere (74th minute) were on target to ensure that the Green Machine, who lost to Hwange last weekend, heaved a sigh of relief.
Former Caps United son Vincent Nzombe thought he had punished his former paymasters in the 37th minute but his attempt off a Louis Matawu cross was adjudged to be from an offside position.
The win saw the Green Machine moving one place up the ladder to position 10 with 28 points from 22 games while Highlanders remain static on position four having garnered 35 points, seven points adrift of log leaders Motor Action.
Highlanders coach Mkhuphali Masuku blamed his defenders for giving away the two goals.
“It was a good game in which we unfortunately gave away two goals. For the first time my players gave away goals, but we have to congratulate Caps United for winning the match. We have to work hard for the next game,” he said.
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His opposite number Lloyd Chitembwe, who has now recorded two wins and a loss since his appointment, said it was good to have notched a win as they badly needed a positive result.
“The most important thing is that we got the result that we needed. The players are getting to realise what it means to play for Caps United.
“I am also happy with the way the captain (Marvel Samaneka) played. This is what we expect from him as a captain,” he said.
Highlanders started the match the better of the two sides and it came as no surprise when they were the first on the scoresheet exactly three minutes into the match through Ncube.
With the central defence of David Sengu and Nyasha Mukumbi struggling, Bosso strikers took turns to miss the goal.
The Green Machine were to be rewarded for their efforts two minutes before half time when Sibanda, in a moment of madness, allowed Gwekwerere’s harmless cross from the right to go in between his legs falling into the path of an unmarked Rambanapasi who did not make a mistake.
Caps United then took the game to Highlanders in the 69th minute through Tafirenyika in a goalmouth melee.
Gwekwerere then added to Highlanders’ woes five minutes later when he took advantage of poor communication between Sibanda and Gilbert Banda to send the United faithful into a frenzy.
Teams Caps United: M Gonese, A Rambanapasi, E Chafungamoyo, T Kumbuyani, D Sengu, D Walaza, N Mukumbi, D Rediyoni, M Samaneka, P Tafirenyika (C Chiutsa 90min), E Gwekwerere (T Samanja 84th min) Highlanders: A Sibanda, G Banda, I Mapuranga, L Matawu, R Kutsanzira (W Dube 79th min), E Mudzingwa (B Kangwa 79th min), S Munawa, G Ncube, L Nkomo, V Nzombe, B Tshuma (G Lunga 42min)
