CAPS United’s push for a top four finish remained on course after labouring to a victory over visiting Triangle in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.
BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA Caps United . . .(0) 1 Triangle . . . . . . . . 0
Once again Dominic Chungwa was at the centre of the story, after deciding the contest with the only goal of the match on 74 minutes.
The Caps United marksman capitalised on an elementary goalkeeping error by Tapiwa Chilenga, who fumbled a speculative long range free kick by goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda, leaving Chungwa with the simplest task of toe-poking the ball into the nets.
The goal took his tally to 12 of the campaign, one ahead of closest challenger Christian Ntouba Epoupa for the Golden Boot Award.
But the Green Machine could have won it comfortably, had it not been for Chungwa who chose to shoot straight into the arms of goalkeeper Chilenga four minutes from full time, instead of passing to his partner Abasirim Chidiebere, who was unmarked and in a better scoring position.
The forceful forward sensing blood in his bid to win the Golden Boot award now appears to want all the glory to himself, something that usually works against the team.
Chungwa had earlier on 70 minutes missed another good opportunity after Chidebere’s shot was spilled by the goalkeeper, but the striker was betrayed by his ball control after getting his timing right.
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Triangle, however, threatened with some dangerous raids orchestrated by Lameck Nhamo. Veteran defender Guthrie Zhokinyu also had a free kick tipped over the bar by Sibanda at the stroke of the first half as Taurai Mangwiro’s men took the game to their opponents.
In the second half, Caps United, came out the more dominant side and Hardlife Zvirekwi came close on 49 minutes, from a Phineas Bhamusi cross but his effort crashed against the upright post. Chungwa, however, failed to do justice to the rebound.
The Green Machine posed a major threat after the introduction of Chidiebere, who came in for Zvirekwi on 65 minutes as they launched wave after wave of attack in their opponents’ goal. It did not really surprise when they went into the lead courtesy of Chungwa’s strike.
The victory lifted Caps United to fifth position on the league table with 45 points.
Caps United assistant coach Fungai “Tosato” Kwashi was happy with the victory. “We are happy. One goal three points, we thank God. We deserved the victory we had more chances, shots on target and the most important thing is that we got the three points. Our focus is our next match against Black Rhinos,” said Kwashi.
Triangle coach Taurai Mangwiro said: “It’s one match which we thought we gave a good fight unfortunately we lost again. We thought we had done enough to deserve something. We had talked about the threat Zikeeper would pose from set pieces. The whole idea was to get something especially after the teams which were breathing heavily on us had dropped points,” he said.
Teams:
Caps United: E Sibanda, V Musarurwa, K Nyamupfukudza, C Munzabwa, S Makatuka, D Chafa, M Muchenje, (J Ngodzo 67)H Zvirekwi, (A Chidiebere 65)(P Bhamusi, J Zhuwawo, (C Kamhapa 87),D Chungwa
Triangle: T Chilenga, D Dzvinyai, B Chimwamuchere, K Chigwida, G Zhokinyu, R Kawondera, E Mawuna (T Rukanda 69), R Madamombe, S Bekimpilo (B Maglas 51), J Chivasa (E Phiri 76) N Lameck
