TRIANGLE . . . . . . . . . . (0)3 CHIREDZI FC . . . . . . . .(0)1
EXCITING Triangle midfielder Nhamo Lameck was the hero of the inaugural Lowveld derby after firing a hat-trick that saw his side dispatching Chiredzi FC 3-1 in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer match played at Gibbo Stadium yesterday.
BY KENNETH NYANGANI IN TRIANGLE
Both teams came into the match under-pressure to please their die-hard Lowveld supporters and they were rewarded with good flair of football, but it was the Biggie Zuze-coached side who had the last laugh after defeating their rivals.
Triangle started the match with fierce raids in the opening five minutes, but failed to find the target.
Bikita-based referee Antony Ncube was caught at the centre of controversy after refusing to award the visitors a penalty in the 14th minute when Triangle defender appeared to have handled inside his box.
Triangle took the game to their opponents after the break and they were rewarded as soon as the 50th minute after Nhamo opened his account with a well struck shot from close range after he was set up by Praise Tonha.
In the 57th minute Blessing Chimwamuchere fouled Chiredzi’s Tapiwa Dephistara from the edge of his box and referee Antony Ncube awarded a free-kick which was brilliantly converted by striker Munyaradzi Chiwara.
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The match took a major twist in the 77th minute when Fidelis Mangezi handled inside his box from Nhamo’s cross and Ncube did not hesitate to point to the spot. But goalkeeper Makore dived left to deny Warriors midfielder Pascal Manhanga and Triangle won a corner kick from the resultant penalty kick.
Lameck Nhamo connected well Tonha’s corner-kick to beat Makore for the second time.
It was Tonha who assisted the third goal again as Nhamo completed his hat-rick with a well taken finish from close range in the 80th minute.
Triangle’s head coach Biggie Zuze said everyone was happy with the win saying that they were now looking forward to their long trip to Hwange.
“We started slowly in first half, but we picked up in the second half and we created chances and we scored from some of them. Everyone is happy with the win, the players and the community, we are now looking forward to play Hwange next week, he said.
