CAPS UNITED . . . . . . . . (1)3
ZPC KARIBA . . . . . . . . (0)2
CAPS United snapped a debilitating four-match winless run at Rufaro Stadium yesterday, overcoming ZPC Kariba in a five-goal thriller that was ultimately defined by a series of highly controversial refereeing decisions.
At the epicentre of an afternoon high on drama was Ishmael Wadi.
The winger embodied the chaotic spirit of the match, scoring a brace — including a disputed last-minute penalty — providing a crucial assist, seeing a legitimate goal wrongly disallowed, and finally receiving a red card deep into stoppage time for a bizarre act of dissent during his own substitution.
The victory provided a timely boost for Caps United, halting a four-game rot that had threatened to derail their title aspirations.
Keep Reading
- CAPS United dismiss player strike reports
- CAPS United rob Wha Wha
- CAPS Utd salvage point in four-goal thriller
- Inside sport: What has gone wrong at Dynamos?
The match also coincided with the return of head coach Takesure Chiragwi, who missed the club’s recent setbacks — a 2-0 defeat to Scottland and a goalless stalemate against FC Platinum — while away on international duty as assistant coach for the Warriors.
Caps United started with an intensity that betrayed their recent anxieties, probing the ZPC Kariba backline from the opening whistle.
They came close when Kudzai Chigwida’s powerful header from a corner was smartly tipped over by goalkeeper Future Sibanda.
The breakthrough arrived moments later.
Brett Amidu, despite being heavily pressured by two markers, managed to slide an improvised through-ball into the path of Wadi, who finished emphatically past Sibanda.
Wadi nearly turned provider shortly after, slipping a pass to Delic Murimba, who bypassed the goalkeeper only to see his effort roll agonizingly wide.
While Kariba gradually grew into the contest, enjoying long spells of confident possession, they rarely looked like penetrative threats before the interval.
The second half, however, dissolved into a frantic spectacle.
Wadi remained a constant menace on the left flank, denied first from point-blank range by Sibanda at 50 minutes, before finding the net two minutes later.
His celebrations were cut short by an offside flag, though television replays subsequently suggested the match officials had erred.
Caps United’s sense of injustice was compounded almost immediately when Kariba equalised in the 55th minute.
Ishmael Muroiwa rose highest to meet a corner, and despite a desperate clearance off the line, the linesman correctly ruled the ball had crossed the threshold.
Yet, parity lasted just five minutes.
Wadi, occasionally maligned for his selfishness, showed admirable composure to square the ball across the face of goal for an unmarked Benhura, who tapped home from a yard out.
Kariba refused to buckle. After Charles Munyanyi failed to connect with a teasing Kudzai Ngwende cross, the visitors found a highly controversial equaliser in the 69th minute.
Ngwende appeared to kick the ball directly out of the gloves of Caps goalkeeper Wallace Magalane — who seemed in complete control of the possession — before turning it into the empty net.
The defining controversy arrived four minutes from time.
Referee Israel Nhevera awarded Caps United a penalty for a handball against Kelvin Gwao.
The ball appeared to strike the back of the defender’s arm as he actively tried to withdraw it.
Nhevera did little to inspire confidence, delaying his whistle until he was heavily mobbed by protesting Caps United players.
Incensed by the decision, the Kariba squad briefly walked off the pitch.
Following a four-minute delay, order was restored, and Wadi coolly converted the spot-kick.
True to the afternoon’s erratic script, Wadi was then shown two successive yellow cards within seconds of each other during stoppage time, having deliberately delayed his departure from the pitch after his number was called.
“It was a lot of drama,” a relieved Chiragwi reflected after the final whistle. “I just need to appreciate the boys for their resilience. They worked very hard to get three points, which is exactly what we wanted. But there are some things that we also need to work on, mostly on our concentration level. I think it’s getting down. Having said that, I want to congratulate the guys on the win. That's where you can get the confidence. We had gone for four games, not winning, so this win will boost the morale of the guys and also their confidence. And I'm happy the strikers today have scored so many goals, which is good for the team.”
Despite the nature of the defeat, ZPC Kariba’s newly appointed coach Expense Chitukutuku remained sanguine about his team's trajectory.
“The boys played quite well away, but you know when you are facing a team coming from two losses, they put everything, and they got the win,” he said.
“Of course, the scoreline went the other way; I’m quite happy with the performance. We are working hard, and I am seeing some progress which can lead us to some greater heights.”
The victory keeps Caps United firmly in the championship hunt, lifting them to third in the table on 31 points, level with leaders Hardrock. Conversely, ZPC Kariba slide to 12th position, remaining precariously poised on 17 points.