How Mine . . . . . . . . . (1) 1 Caps United . . . . . . .(1) 2 Report by Fortune Mbele
CAPS UNITED handed How Mine their first home defeat in five matches to collect maximum points away from home to rise to position four on the log standings in a Castle Lager Premiership football match at Luveve Stadium yesterday.
The Green Machine went ahead 22 minutes into the game through Dominic Chungwa after left-back Ronald Pfumbidzai spotted an unmarked Hardlife Zvirekwi on the right.
Zvirekwi flighted a high cross over height-disadvantaged How Mine goalkeeper Nonjabulo Dube and Chungwa finished off with a tap-in just behind the goalkeeper to put the visitors ahead.
Zvirekwi was brought down at the edge of the box by central defender Brighton Dube and from the resultant free kick he unleashed a screamer from about 25 metres that left Dube puzzled to put Makepekepe two up.
How Mine got their consolation through a penalty after substitute Dominic Mukandi handled inside the box and up stepped Menard Mupera to beat Tafadzwa Dube.
Caps United gaffer Brenna Msiska was happy with the win and said the victory would the make the job easier for Taurai Mangwiro, who bounces back after he was exonerated from Asiagate shame by the Zifa Special Appeals Committee.
“It was a good game and our opponents played good football, but we did not utilise most of the chances that we created. Tau’s (Mangwiro) job is going to be easy after the victory as I hand over the baton,” Msiska said.
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It was a disappointing defeat for How Mine mentor Philani Mabhena, who has previously said his aim is to win his home matches as they are fighting relegation.
“We did not fare well especially in the first half. We tried to come back into the game, but it was too late. The leadership has not been there at the back, but we have declared that we are fighting relegation from the start. We lost three points at home and naturally, we are disappointed,” Mabhena said.
The absence of veterans Hebert Dick and Gilbert Banda was felt at the back, but How Mine were outdone in midfield where Zvirekwi roved and turned attacking from the right where the hosts’ left-back Khumbulani Banda was too much on the offensive and lagging on recovery.
Caps United striker Tawanda Nyamandwe was the first to test goalkeeper Dube as early as the eighth minute, but his snapshot was pushed out.
Simba Sithole for How Mine also tried a few tricks with substitutes Nqobile Mpala and Thabani Moyo, but it was Caps United who emerged the winners at the final whistle.
