HARARE City . . . . . . . . . . . . .0 Tsholotsho FC . . . . . ………(0) 1
SIMBARASHE Gorogodyo scored the first goal of the 2015 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season to decide an exhilarating contest with a classy finish that handed fancied Harare City a shock loss against newboys Tsholotsho at Rufaro Stadium yesterday.
BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA
The match also marked the first time a woman coach Sithethelwe Sibanda, a former Mighty Warriors player popularly known as Kwinji 15, sat on the bench as an assistant coach for Tsholotsho.
Gorogodyo profited from a cross into the penalty area by Kriess Chitiyo on 77 minutes to drill a low shot that beat Harare City goalkeeper Tafadzwa Dube to decide the contest.
City skipper David Kutyauripo wanted to shepherd the ball out, but Chitiyo nipped it and found Gorogodyo for the perfect finish.
Tsholotsho coach Lizwe Sizwe was delighted to pick maximum points in his first match at this level.
“I had the confidence before the match that we would win. We were huge underdogs going into the match and I had told the boys football is the same, go and express yourselves. This team has been together for some time and I am happy with the victory,” Sizwe said.
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His opposite number Taurai Mangwiro was disappointed with the result, but remained optimistic they would pick themselves up as the league progressed.
“We were our own worst enemies. We couldn’t impose ourselves on the match and we allowed our opponents to grow in confidence resulting in that sucker punch. There were signs of desperation from my team, but I know we will get back on track as we progress,” Mangwiro said.
Yet it was the home team who started off showing a lot of verve with methodical build-ups in the first half. They had a penalty appeal turned away by referee Pedzisai Chadya after just two minutes when Martin Vengesayi was fouled by impressive Tsholotsho goalkeeper Marion Chang in the penalty area.
Harare City threatened with some fine raids afterwards, but there was no end product in terms of goals with Honey Chimutimunzeve coming close in the 11th and 26th minutes.
In the 31st minute, Nathan Ziwini was denied by Chang with a brilliant save.
Tsholotsho though had a good opportunity on 37 minutes, but dreadlocked midfielder Ocient Ncube sent his effort over the bar.
Harare City chief marksman Francesco Zekumbawire, who appeared to struggle in front of goals, was booked on 39 minutes, the first yellow card of the match and of the season and was eventually hauled off a minute later with William Manondo coming into the fray.
In the second half, Tsholotsho remained dominant, but they failed to breach the Harare City defence that did not give them much space. Former Highlanders striker Kudzanai Machazane whose pace and dribbling posed a threat to the City defence manned by Crispen Dickson, Temba Ndlovu, Arnold Chivheya and Kutyauripo was one of the outstanding players.
In the 65th minute, the visitors were dealt a huge blow after their captain William Stima got injured with Donald Dzvinya coming in for him.
However, the home team controlled the match towards the end as they sought an equaliser, but they still found themselves trailing behind Tsholotsho following a sucker punch by Gorogodyo.
Teams:
Harare City: T Dube, A Chivheya, T Ndlovu, D Kutyauripo, C Dickson (N Alifandika 75th), T Samanja, N Ziwini (H Makukutu 50th), M Vengesayi, T Chawapiwa, H Chimutimunzeve, F Zekumbawira (W Manondo 40th)
Tsholotsho FC: M Chang, P MacClive, B Ricky, T Ncube, W Stima (D Dzvinya 65th) B Ncube, O Ncube, S Gorogodyo, ( A Ncube 87th), K Chitiyo, N Gama, K Machazane.
