HARDROCK FC and Caps United shared the spoils in an entertaining 3-3 draw at Chahwanda Stadium yesterday, a result that ultimately handed the title race advantage to log leaders Scottland.
The Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Matchday 21 encounter was a true six-goal thriller, packed with high-octane drama and a showcase of new mid-season signings.
However, the split points meant both teams lost critical ground in their pursuit of the championship, allowing Scottland to strengthen their position at the top of the table following their victory on Saturday.
The match served as a debut platform for several high-profile mid-season acquisitions. Veteran goalkeeper Washington Arubi made his debut for Caps United, while Hardrock introduced Prince Dube and Gerald Takwara, to their faithful home crowd.
Wilfred Madzungu stole the headlines after coming off the bench in the second half to score a quickfire brace within five minutes and rescue a point for the hosts.
Earlier, Washington Navaya had given Hardrock the lead in the 16th minute. Caps United responded strongly through goals from Kudzai Chigwida, Obriel Chirinda, and Chris Mugalu, the latter marking a return after missing the first half of the season.
The dramatic, end-to-end contest left both coaches reflecting on missed opportunities, though they praised the entertainment on display.
Hardrock coach Kelvin Kaindu expressed mixed emotions, saying his side had let victory slip away.
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“Not talking about the result, but I think the outcome of the overall game showed that we’ve got teams that are able to entertain the fans,” Kaindu said. “At the end of the day, we come out with a point, but I think we lost two points. We were in control, we made one mistake and we were punished.”
“The only thing we need is to keep on winning. The league is not about beating the teams we’ve not beaten. If we are able to get points from other teams, it’s good for us — that is why we are in second position. As much as we want positive results against these teams, we were close but we lost it.”
Caps United coach Takesure Chiragwi focused on his team’s resilience after fighting back multiple times.
“Today we scored three goals. Of course, we wanted to win, but don’t take away what the opponents did — they were very good in attack,” he said. “Coming from behind, when we lead, they come back. They lead, we come back. And we managed a draw. I think it is a fair result for the boys, and we just need to appreciate that.”
Chiragwi also praised the atmosphere at Chahwanda Stadium.
"I’m happy about how the fans came to the stadium. Today I think they enjoyed their money in terms of exciting football. The performance was good, so we take the point — it is very important to us,” he said.
While fans enjoyed the six-goal spectacle, the result proved most beneficial to Scottland, who extended their advantage at the top as the chasing pack stumbled.
