Caps United . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1 Chicken Inn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0 CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe believes his side is well-poised to win the championship after their victory over Chicken Inn at the National Sports Stadium yesterday, which put the Green Machine just a point behind log leaders FC Platinum.
BY HENRY MHARA
Veteran Leonard Tsipa converted from the penalty spot in the 58th minute for his eighth goal of the season, which put him level with top goal scorer, Gift Mbweti.
With the victory, Caps moved to 46 points, one behind FC Platinum with just seven matches remaining to the season.
It is for that reason that Chitembwe believes his charges have a good chance to finally lift the championship that they last won over a decade ago.
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“I’m very delighted with the way we played. Our ambition is the same, we have always wanted to be champions and its now very clear considering the way we are getting results,” he said.
“We have a good chance, and we are extremely happy with the situation we find ourselves in. Our chances are as good as that of FC Platinum and Highlanders. I don’t know about Dynamos. We have been very consistent, we have never been out of the top three since the season started and that tells you about our ambitions and intentions.”
Chicken Inn coach, Rahman Gumbo, whose side is on 32 points and almost out of the title race said: “It was a balanced game. We had our chances and we could have scored, which could have turned the game around. Caps had their chances and took one and managed to win because matches are decided by goals.”
After FC Platinum had won their match on Saturday, Caps were hard-pressed to respond and keep pressure on the log leaders. That intention was clear from the onset, as the home side flew out of the starting blocks.
But for all their industry and possession early on, they did not create any meaningful chance, save for Joel Ngodzo’s hurried effort in the fifth minute, which went wide after a clever lay-off from Leonard Tsipa.
It was the visitors who forced the first save of the match, with Clemence Matawu drawing a smart save from Edmore Sibanda on seven minutes.
Chitembwe’s side were unlucky in the 18th minute when defender, Devine Lunga’s intended clearance with his head almost beat his own goalkeeper, Elvis Chipezeze, with the ball bouncing off the cross bar.
Tsipa’s glancing header flashed over the bar, before skipper, Moses Muchenje blazed over from a good range, as the home side continued with their dominance.
Chicken Inn’s response was to pull out Tafadzwa Kutinyu for Guide Goddard in the 35th minute, to try and contain the Harare side. The change almost paid dividends immediately, with the midfielder meeting a cross from a free-kick, which Caps keeper, Edmore Sibanda did just enough to tip over.
Both teams had genuine shouts for penalties waved away by matchday referee, Pedzisai Chadya in the first half. Moses Demera was hacked down from behind by Dennis Dauda inside the box and then at the other end, Thabani Goredema appeared to stretch his hand to block a Ronald Pfumbidzai free-kick. On both occasions, the match officials were not convinced.
Chitembwe was forced into a first half substitution, introducing Kudzai Nyamupfukudza just minutes before the break after an injury to Muchenje, as the game went to halftime deadlocked.
Chicken Inn came back from the break a totally different side, taking the game to the hosts. They fought for every loose ball, forcing Caps United players to make mistakes.
Dauda was dispossesed by Matawu inside the box, but the veteran midfielder’s shot on his weaker left foot, went straight at Sibanda. The punishment for that glaring miss was immediate.
Against the run of play, Caps won a penalty, as Lawrence Mhlanga was adjudged to have handled inside the box. Tsipa stepped up and blasted home.
Ronald Pfumbidzai almost increased Caps’ advantage in the 76th minute, but his curling free-kick squirmed off the foot of the upright Chicken Inn threw caution to the wind late on, and increased numbers in forward positions, but they were almost caught on the counter on two occasions.
A sprawlamp-img Simba Nhivi failed to bundle the ball home, before Chipezeze stretched to save Pfumbidzai’s cross with Nhivi lurking on the blind side.
Line-ups Caps United: E Sibanda, H Zvirekwi, R Pfumbidzai, S Makatuka, D Dauda, D Chafa, M Muchenje (K Nyamupfukudza, 44′), P Bamusi, J Ngodzo, S Nhivi, L Tsipa (C Munzambwa, 78′)
Chicken Inn: E Chipezeze, P Benard, L Mhlanga, D Lunga, G Majika, C Samakweri (I Lawe, 64′), M Demera (O Tarumbwa, 50′), T Goredema, T Kutinyu (G Goddard, 35′), M Jackson, C Matawu