Harare City . . . . (0)3 Monomotapa . . . .. (1) 1 IF there were any doubts about Harare City’s potential to snatch the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title, they were quashed yesterday when the sleek Sunshine Boys came from behind to beat Monomotapa at Rufaro Stadium.
REPORT BY HENRY MHARA
Taking full advantage of Highlanders and Dynamos’ slip on Wednesday, Harare City struck three times in the last 45 minutes to subdue an impressive Monoz side.
Agrippa Murimba gave the 2008 league champions a 41st minute lead, sweeping home a cross from the right after fine moves on the right involving Zvikomborero Biseki and Obey Mwerahari.
But quick goals by Phenias Bamusi and the impressive James Jam early in the second half did the damage for City.
Second leading goalscorer Osbourne Mukuradare made the result more convincing with a header midway through the second half.
The result saw the City Fathers moving to second position on the log table with 28 points, just one behind leaders Highlanders.
In his post match analysis, Harare City coach Bigboy Mawiwi said he was never in doubt that his side would get maximum points even after going behind. “We still have a long way to go before the end of the season, but this result is very crucial for us,” noted Mawiwi.
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“We are working very hard as a team and these are the fruits. I have quality players and the management is also doing a good job in supporting us. If this unity of purpose continues to prevail I think we will get somewhere.”
Monoz assistant coach Nkululeko Sibanda admitted that they lost to a better side, noting that City were dangerous on the wings from where the speedy Silas Songani, Bamusi and occasionally Martin Vengesai were operating.
“They were more determined in the second half. They had so much speed on the flanks and their players were always first on the ball. Ours is a new team and we are still trying different combinations,” said Dlamini.
There were good early signs for both sides who exhibited some lovely passing game, but it was City who were looking more threatening. Bamusi fired terribly wide from a tight angle in the opening minutes when squaring the ball for Vengesai and Mukuradare could have been a better option.
The opening goal came when Biseki’s neat through pass set Mwerahari free on the right wing and the roving right back sent a cross that was directed into the nets by the lurking Murimba. City’s leveller was a carbon copy of the opening goal when Munyaradzi Diro’s through pass opened Monoz defence to find Silas Songani and the national team winger sent in a cross that eluded all the defenders but Bamusi.
Two minutes later, City were in front. And this time, the finish was even more sublime.
A clever dummy on the wing by Vengesai fooled two defenders to find Diro whose cross was half cleared and the ball landed invitingly for Jam to rifle home with a first time volley with his weaker left foot. Mukuradare made sure of the points when he headed in his eighth goal of the season, connecting a cross from Bamusi on the left.
l At Luveve Stadium in Bulawayo yesterday, Josphat Phiri snatched a late equaliser for How Mine as 10-men Triangle were denied an important win in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match played at Luveve Stadium yesterday. Triangle had scored first through Limited Chikafa in the 60th minute before How Mine scored in the 86th minute through Phiri, who had come in as a substitute in the 67th minute for Timothy January. The visitors finished with 10 men following the expulsion of Blessing Mwamuchera for a second bookable offence in the 34th minute.
