MUTARE CITY ROVERS…(0)
CAPS UNITED………(2)2
CAPS United shot to the top of the Castle Lager Premiership after registering an away win against struggling Mutare City Rovers in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match played at Sakubva Stadium yesterday. BY KENNETH NYANGANI
The Green Machine replaced ZPC Kariba at the top of the log, who have an inferior goal difference, although they both have 21 points. The Sunday Chidzambwa side recorded a 1-0 win against Tsholotsho at Nyamhunga Stadium on Saturday.
Caps came into this match looking to put aside problems that saw the players stage a strike over unpaid salaries during the week and were desperate for a win after their draw in the last match. As early as the 10th minute, Simba Nhivi had calmed nerves before Brian Amidu sealed the victory for the visitors in the 40thminute.
Coach Lloyd Chitembwe was elated with the win, as they kept their title chase on track.
“The win is good for the team, we did well in the first half, the concentration and everything were just good, but there is no reason to be excited and it is important to be focused and grounded ahead of our upcoming matches,’’ he said.
His counterpart, Taku Shariwa said they lost to a good side and believes that they do not have quality players.
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“We lost to a better side, we need to be a lot stronger than we were today we don’t have a good strike force, but today, we cannot say it because we had two or three balls that were cleared off the line, we have quantity not quality,’’ he said.
Rovers started on a high note, probing during the first minute, but Caps goalkeeper, Jorum Muchambo easily collected the ball from a Sam Msimbu shot.
Caps had their first real chance to open the scoring after Joel Ngodzo was fouled on the edge of the box by Rovers defender, Emmanuel Sinaputa, but Leonard Tsipa failed to direct his shot on target.
Then came the magical moment when diminutive midfielder, Phineas Bhamusi managed to work his way past a cluster of the home defenders before delivering a fine cross that Nhivi bundled past Rovers goalkeeper, Mark Makuyana.
Ronald Pfumbidzai came close to increasing his side’s lead in the 14th minute, but his finely taken corner kick was scooped for another corner kick by Makuyana.
Rovers’ fans watched in disbelief and disappointment after a Sinaputa header was cleared off the line by Hardlife Zvirekwi in the 25th minute.
Bhamusi came close again, but Makuyana rescued the situation, saving from a low shot.
Two minutes later Buffaloes’ Steven Sibanda saw his shot cleared off the line. Amidu sealed the match three minutes later after beating Makuyana in a goal mouth melee.
Both sides failed to create meaningful chances in the second stanza Ngodzo, almost increased his side’s lead in the 78th minute, but his shot narrowly missed the target.
