CAPS UNITED . . . . . . . . . . . 0 HARARE CITY . . . . . . . . . .(0) 1
BY HENRY MHARA
HARARE CITY arrested their three-match winless run with a victory over Caps United at the National Sports Stadium, in a Premier Soccer League match that never moved into the second gear.
Osbourne Mukuradare scored two minutes after the break, pouncing on a loose ball after a horrible mix-up between Caps goalkeeper Chris Mverechena and his defender Carlton Mudzambwa.
It was City’s first victory in three matches since their 3-0 win over Dongo Sawmill in early June.
The goal conceded by Caps was also the first in six matches. With the win, the Taurai Mangwiro-coached side moved to sixth position with 26 points, dislodging Caps United who are now on seventh and a point less.
City assistant coach Mike Madzivanyika said: “The boys played well and deserved to win. We fought for every ball. We were solid at the back and had a couple of chances, and had we put away some of them, the scoreline could have been even different.”
Caps United coach Mark Mathe was understandably disappointed with, not only the way that he conceded the goal, but it was his first defeat since he took over from Mark Harrison last month.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“I’m very sad with the manner we conceded the goal. It was a mistake which is unacceptable at this level. The concentration and communication must have been better. That goal took the stuffing out of our fighting spirit. We lacked imagination and creativity in the final third, otherwise we played well and didn’t deserve to lose,” said Mathe.
The former Highlanders gaffer threw two of his seven new signings into the starting line-up.
Zambian Michael Mwenga and the returning Oscar Machapa started the match at leftback position and right link respectively. Both gave a decent show.
The two teams failed to create any meaningful chances early on with much action concentrated in midfield.
The first real chance would arrive on the half hour mark from a long throw-in by Hardlife Zvirekwi which City goalkeeper Tafadzwa Dube made a mess of, but Dominic Mukandi failed to capitalise, blasting over from a good range.
It took City some 42 minutes to really threaten the Caps goal when former Mashoko High School student Martin Vengesai created some space for himself, but his shot just missed the target.
Caps could have opened the scoring a minute from half-time when Kudzai Nyamupfukudza was sent clear on goal but shot straight at Dube.
He and his team were punished for that miss two minutes after the break when Munzambwa and Mverechena both hesitated to deal with a loose ball and Mukuradare took advantage to prod home an easy goal.
Caps United threw everything into attack but never created any anxious moment for the opposition. In fact, It was City who could have doubled their lead late on when second half substitute Francesco Zekumbawira’s short flashed across the face of goal.
