Caps United . . . . (2) 2 Hwange. . . . . . . . .(0) 0
Tawanda Tafirenyika
CAPS United’s championship bid remained on course after they overcame a battling Hwange in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.
Caps have now collected seven points in their last three matches — moving them to sixth position on the log table with 23 points. The Harare side beat FC Platinum 2-1 before settling for a 0-0 draw against Monomotapa before the Premiership break.
And yesterday, they capitalised on home advantage to bag maximum points with forward David Rediyoni and midfielder Moses Muchenje finding the target in the first half.
The Green Machine took control of the match from kick-off with Tawanda Nyamandwe warming the hands of goalkeeper Timothy Sibanda just after two minutes from a cross by Ronald Pfumbidzai.
Rediyoni had a good chance on 10 minutes, but his free kick from outside the box was saved by Sibanda.
The visitors missed a good opportunity in the 22nd minute after Nkosana Siwela flighted a cross into the penalty area, but Farai Vimisayi was slow in reaction.
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But Rediyoni thrust Caps into the lead on 30 minutes — when he turned sharply before drilling the ball past Sibanda.
Before could Hwange could regroup, they found themselves 2-0 down four minutes later after Muchenje was allowed a free header by the coal miners’ defence following a good delivery into the danger zone by Tendai Samanja.
In the second half, Caps defended their lead and also created good opportunities which they, however, failed to convert.
Caps coach Taurai Mangwiro introduced Gift Phiri for the ineffective Rahman Kutsanzira, who was coming from an injury, at the start of the second half.
Hwange, however, showed determination with striker Evans Rusike coming close on 47 minutes.
Hwange coach Nation Dube then made a double substitution bringing on Gilbert Zulu for Farai Vimisayi and Isaac Masame for Oscar Lungu on 51 minutes.
Seven minutes later, Munyaradzi Mungadzi could have pulled one back for the visitors, but watched his free kick from outside the box go wide.
Mangwiro made another substitution when he brought on Leonard Fiyado for Nyamandwe.
In the 66th minute, Phiri won possession in the penalty box, but his blistering shot was cleared from danger by the Hwange defence.
However, Hwange missed a good opportunity on 82 minutes after Siwela dribbled past two Caps defenders on the left before flighting a high ball into the penalty area, but it found no takers.
Mangwiro was happy with the victory as he faces log leaders Highlanders at the weekend.
“We have been working hard during the break to get this result. The break allowed us an opportunity to assess a number of players and we played well especially in the first half in which we scored two goals. In the second half we wanted to protect our lead and we also had good chances,” said Mangwiro.
Hwange coach Dube blamed the defeat on lack of match practice during the break.
“We struggled in the first half, but in the second half we exerted pressure on them. I think the break affected us because we didn’t play any friendly matches.
“The top-flight teams we wanted to play against were playing other teams and the Division One League is on so we could not get a friendly match,” said Dube.
