MWOS FC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2) 2
BULAWAYO CHIEFS . . . . . . . . . (1) 1
MWOS FC finally found their winning rhythm yesterday, as first-half goals from Namibian import Dawid Ndeunyema and Arthur Banda secured their first three-point haul of the season with a hard-fought victory over Bulawayo Chiefs at Ngoni Stadium in Norton.
While the strikers found the net, it was goalkeeper Francis Tizayi who produced a man-of-the-match performance, saving a crucial Brian Muza penalty early in the second half to preserve the lead.
The win marks MWOS’ first maximum points of the campaign, leaving them unbeaten after four matches heading into the international break.
They now sit in eighth place with six points.
MWOS FC coach Lloyd Mutasa was relieved to get the win over the line.
“First of all, glory be to God for awarding us the three points. It was a very tough match,” Mutasa said.
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“I want to applaud Bulawayo Chiefs; they gave us a very good shift, but the difference was that we were clinical with the chances we created. It was a real seesaw of a match.
“We expected John [Nyikadzino] to play defensively, but he surprised us by attacking. It was a cause for concern, but the good part is we managed to secure the result.”
Nyikadzino, the Bulawayo Chiefs coach, felt the scoreline didn’t do his side justice.
“The result is not a true reflection of what happened on the pitch in terms of performance. Since we returned to the Premier League, this was one of our best displays,” he said.
“Unfortunately, we didn’t utilise our chances, most notably the penalty. If we had been more clinical, we should have won this game.”
The deadlock was broken midway through the first half when Dawid Ndeunyema unleashed a stunning strike from outside the box. Chiefs, however, fought back, with Anesu Saiti equalising nine minutes before halftime, calmly slotting the ball into the bottom left corner from the edge of the area.
MWOS responded almost immediately.
Arthur Banda restored the lead after being picked out by Jeremiah Makangira, turning sharply inside the box to fire home.
Chiefs emerged the stronger side after the interval, but MWOS nearly extended their lead when Ndeunyema danced past several defenders only to see his ferocious shot brilliantly saved by Matripples Muleya.
Moments later, the visitors were handed a lifeline when Tizayi was judged to have fouled Saiti in the box.
Brian Muza stepped up, but his effort down the middle was parried away by Tizayi.
The veteran shot-stopper was called into action again late in the game, produced a point-blank save to deny Claivert Tshuma and ensure the points stayed in Norton.
Match teams
MWOS FC: F Tizayi, T Nyabunze, V Katsande, I Zambezi, Mathew Murambiwa (MacSean Murambiwa, 46’), D Ndeunyema (W Mensah, 71’), T Mutyambizi (M Mudzuka, 62’), A Manyamba (C Kwangwari, 62’), J Makangira, A Banda, B Veremu (B Mpofu, 46’)
Bulawayo Chiefs: M Muleya, B Kagudu, N Ncube (D Musiiwa, 85’), B. Muza (L Milanzi, 64’), E Moyo, P Shoko, M Ncube, M Hativagoni, J Masaza, A Saiti, F Matare
