NGEZI PLATINUM . . . . . . .(1) 1 HARARE CITY . . . . . . . . . (1) 2
HARARE City coach Moses Chunga marked his return to the Premier Soccer League with a victory over Ngezi Platinum in a match played at Baobab Stadium in Ngezi yesterday.
HENRY MHARA IN NGEZI
Ronald Chitiyo starred in the match with a goal in the 15th minute before providing the assist for the winner scored by William Manondo on the 62nd minute.
Donald Teguru had equalised on 16th minute in the first half, where the home side dominated and should have scored at least another goal.
The win saw City moving to the seventh position with 12 points, while Ngezi, still winless at home in the top flight, remained on 12th position with eight points.
Chunga, who was mobbed by the travelling fans at the final whistle said: “Its great to start with a positive result. We might not have played our best football, but we are happy because the objective was to win the match.”
He added: “It’s a step forward as we will build from this result.”
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Ngezi Platinum coach Clifton Kadurira, who is reportedly sitting on a two-match ultimatum, looked dejected at the end of the match, but was still hopeful of getting better results in the near future.
“These boys played well today and it’s very unfortunate we ended up on the losing end. There are some positives I picked from this match and we can only get better. We conceded soft goals, but we also created good opportunities which I thought we should have put away. If we can add one or two strikers, I think we can do better.”
Chunga gave a surprise start to Chitiyo, who has been out for some time with an injury and the former Dynamos diminutive midfielder announced his return in style when he got behind the Ngezi defence before beating goalkeeper Blessing Mwandimutsira with a rising shot on his near post.
The lead did not last long though as Teguru’s glancing header from a setpiece sailed past Tafadzwa Dube in goals for City a minute later.
The players in their celebrations ran and hugged Kadurira in a clear show of solidarity with their underfire coach.
After the goal, City briefly looked shaken and vulnerable, especially at the back just as they did under fired coach Taurai Mangwiro.
Ngezi took control of the game, exposing City’s defence and one could see the uneaseness among the back four everytime a long ball was put into the danger zone.
The home side continued to give as much as they got for the rest of the half and had they utilised the numerous chances they created, they could have run with it before the halftime break.
Ngezi started the second half, as they had finished the first — creating half chances, but were let down by poor finishing.
Liberty Chakoroma fired wide before Teguru made a good run into the box, but also directed his shot wide.
The glaring miss was punished immediately when Chitiyo collected a pass before setting up Manondo with a beautifully weighed pass and the striker made no mistake, his shot hitting the nets via the up right post.
Ngezi substitute James Ngulube almost spoiled the party for Chunga with two minutes to go, but his shot ricocheted off the cross bar. City substitute Honey Chimutimunzeve also wasted two glorious chances and Chitiyo blazed over from close range in the closing moments as the match finished frantically.
Teams
Ngezi Platinum: B Mwandimutsira, K Murera, T Chamboko, K Machona, E Tapera, L Chakoroma, T Dzukamanja, D Kamunhenga (J Ngulube, 66’), D Teguru, J Marufu (E Katema, 74’), W Pakamisa.
Harare City: T Dube, J Tigere, A Chivheya, M Nyenye, C Dickson, T Samanja, W Manondo, R Chitiyo, M Vengesai (J Jam, 91’), K Kumwala (H Chimutimunzeve, 68’), F Zekumbawire
