CAPS UNITED . . . . . (0) 2 HWANGE . . . . . . . . . . (1)1
HENRY MHARA
CAPS United moved into third position on the log standing after a hard-earned, but ultimately comfortable win over Hwange at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.
Two second-half goals by Dominic Chungwa and a sweetly struck volley by Leonard Fiyado 13 minutes later cancelled out a first half Gilbert Zulu goal for Hwange.
The victory took Caps United’s points tally to 23, tied on second with city rivals Dynamos, and just one behind leaders Highlanders.
Caps United coach Taurai Mangwiro said the win was very important for his side as they remained within reach of the leading pack. Hwange slumped to fourth, a point below Caps United, after the loss, which their coach Nation Dube blamed on a complacent second half play from his players.
This fixture was Hwange’s first trip to Harare and they started brightly by moving the ball around briskly when they were in possession early on.
They could have taken the lead on the fourth minute when Isaac Masame escaped on the right before delivering a perfect cutback which Zulu turned over.
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Caps United had their first real chance at goal after 14minutes when Moses Muchenje’s header was tipped over by Hwange goalkeeper Takabva Mawaya.
The visitors eventually took the lead they so much deserved with an angled shot from a rebound after Jorum Muchambo had made a mess of an Isaac Masame freekick taken from outside the box.
The goal seemed to have awakened Caps United as they started stringing passes around, but the final pass was poor.
David Boriwondo almost gifted the hosts an equaliser when a cross from the right ricocheted off his hand and towards the nets, but the Hwange goalie made a reaction save to avert the danger.
There were loud shouts of a penalty from the Caps players and fans who believed the ball came off the defender’s hand, but referee Thomas Masaa was not convinced.
Caps United got a dream start to the second half when a quickly taken freekick by Fiyado on the right released Pevington Zimunya for a cross into the box and Chungwa bundled it home a goal which owed much to fortune rather than the striker’s brilliance.
It got even better for Caps United 13 minutes later when Fiyado gave his side the lead with an absolute stunner, volleying home from just outside the box.
The goal was a result of some intense pressure from the hosts who had Zimunya’s free kick turned away by the Hwange keeper and Muchenje’s shot going wide just moments before.
Halftime substitute Ismael Thindwa could and should have given Caps some breathing space on 82nd, but he failed to score from a metre out after some good work by Hardlife Zvirekwi.
The glaring miss could not prove any costly as the home side managed to see off the last minutes of the match with little problems.
TEAMS Caps United: J Muchambo, T Kumbuyani, R Pfumbidzai, D Chipala, S Makatuka, T Samanja, H Zvirekwi, M Muchenje (I Thindwa, 56th min), P Zimunya, L Fiyado (G Mangani 90th min), D Chungwa (D Mukandi 69th min). Hwange: M Takabva, P Dube, M Mungadze, G Ndlovu, D Boriwondo, A Chuma, F Vimisai (N Sianchale 83rd min), O Lungu (M Mpofu 61st min), G Zulu, I Masame (T Chese 72nd min), E Rusike, T Chese
