Caps United . . . . . . . (0) 1
Simba Bhora . . . . . . (0) 2
WALTER Musona scored an 83rd-minute free-kick to help his Simba Bhora side beat Caps United and keep pace with Manica Diamonds and FC Platinum at the top of the Castle Premier Soccer League.
On a solemn day for the Green Machine after the death of assistant coach Nelson Matongorere on Wednesday, the home side found themselves trailing after a Harrison Masina goal in the 50th minute.
Rodwell Chinyengetere then converted from the penalty spot in the 79th minute after Vasili Kawe had been adjudged to have handled inside the box, to restore parity.
But Musona ensured the Shamva-based team walked away with all the three points when his free-kick took a deflection on the wall to wrong-foot goalkeeper Tonderai Mateyaunga.
The victory moved Simba into third position on the log standings with 24 points, five behind log leaders Manica Diamonds and four behind second-placed FC Platinum.
Simba Bhora coach Tonderai Ndiraya was not entirely satisfied with his boys’ performance, but happy that they managed to grind a win.
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“It was always going to be difficult. We did not expect our players to be sharper than this, obviously because of the three games that we have played inside seven days. In those games, we also travelled to Bulawayo so in terms of sharpness and free flowing it was always going to be difficult. In the first-half we got so.many chances to score especially on transition but because of the lack of sharpness, it was difficult for the players to take the chances that came our way,” Ndiraya said.
Caps United are on eighth position with 18 points. Coach Lloyd Chitembwe failed to pitch up for his media duties after the match.
A minute of silence before the start of the match was observed to pay tribute to Matongorere.
Players from both sides, with Caps United stars clad in t-shirts bearing Matongorere's picture, gathered around the centre circle as they honoured the incredible legacy of the veteran coach who passed on last week, aged 68.
He will be laid to rest in Harare this afternoon.
The visitors impressed in the early stages, with Musona testing Mateyaunga with a stinging shot, which the goalkeeper did well to parry away in the early stages of the game.
Tymon Machope and Masina failed to convert two golden opportunities for Simba after successive mistakes by Mateyaunga, with the former having a free shot on goal after intercepting a clearance, but the effort went just wide with the keeper in no man’s land.
The hosts were threatening in phases and they thought they had taken the lead in the 22nd minute, but William Manondo’s goal was ruled out for offside.
Caps captain Godknows Murwira rattled the cross bar straight from a cornerkick late in the first-half and Simba Bhora keeper Simba Chinani had to make a reaction save on the line to keep out Wayne Makuva’s effort from the rebound.
Masina fluffed a good chance early in the second-half when he took long to dispatch, and defenders recovered to clear.
But his persistence was rewarded moments later when he got behind the defence to meet a long ball from the back and side footed it underneath the goalkeeper.
Things almost got better for Simba two minutes later, but Mthokozisi Msebe's shot after a clever layoff from Machope went just wide.
At the other end, Makuwe shot hit the side netting as the home side looked to respond quickly.
Chitembwe's men were awarded a penalty after Kawe handled inside the box, and Chinyengetere scored with ease from the spot.
As Caps United pushed for a winner, Simba Bhora pounced and collected maximum points.
Teams
Caps United: T Mateyaunga, H Chapusha, E Manokore, B Kangwa, G Murwira, K Mureremba, R Kawondera, J Bunjira (P Bamusi, 49'), W Makuva, R Chinyengetere, W Manondo
Simba Bhora: S Chinani, W Tafa, I Nyanhi, I Mauchi, B Moyo, T Chipunza, V Kawe, M Msebe (A Manenji, 87'), W Musona (B Veremu, 94'), T Machope, H Masina (M Mkolo, 71').
