BUFFALOES boosted their chances of avoiding relegation from the Castle lager Premier League when they beat fellow strugglers Flame Lilly at Sakubva yesterday.
BY CLAYTON MASEKESA BUFFALOES . . . . . . . . (0) (2) FLAME LILY . . . . . . . . (0)
Buffaloes dominated the proceedings but were hugely let down by their wasteful strikers.
On eight minutes, skillful Buffaloes midfielder Phillip Thembani’s low shot just outside the box was saved by Prosper Chigumba in goals for Flame Lily.
The visiting team’s striker Virimai Mukudo could not believe it as he watched his headed effort narrowly miss the target on the stroke of half time after receiving a cross on the left from Motion Muponda.
In the second half Buffaloes charged its batteries and were fired up.
Captain Shepherd started to dictate proceedings from the midfield picking out his strikers with ease.
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As the time proved to be running out for Buffaloes, coach Saul Chaminuka made some substitutions in hunt for goals.
In the 78th minute in came left back Kudzai Mwaramba for George Mukahanana and Lloyd Katongomora for Farai Banda.
In the 83rd minutes Katongomora did justice to an inviting cross on the left from Mwaramba when he volleyed home torching wild celebrations from the home team’s fans who had become restless.
Buffaloes exerted more pressure and forced the Flame Lily defence marshaled by veteran defenders Brighton Chandisaita and Gift Phiri to back pedal.
In the 88th minute Buffaloes put the final nail on Flame Lily’s coffin when seasoned striker Jacob Muzokomba received a long pass from Thembani.
Muzokomba calmly controlled the ball and struck a hard and low short sealing a memorable victory for the soldiers.
In a post-match interview an elated Buffaloes gaffer Saul Chaminuka said: “It is nice to collect maximum points when competing with a team at the same level. It is good to win against your competitor. It is also good that when people are thinking of relegation, we are thinking of survival.”
His opposite Backlyfield Chivenga said: “It has been an open match but we made a lot of mistakes and it cost us the game.”
