It was a family affair at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday as the Musona brothers, Knowledge and Walter, both found the back of the net to inspire Scottland FC to a clinical 2-0 away victory over Chicken Inn.
The crucial Matchday 14 win sees the ambitious Harare-based outfit, affectionately known as Mabviravira, bounce back to winning ways and significantly close the gap on the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League pacesetters.
Scottland FC signaled their intentions early in the match, looking well-structured and dangerous on the break. The breakthrough came in the 22nd minute when the veteran Knowledge Musona showed his class, breaking the deadlock to give the visitors a precious lead.
Chicken Inn fought to get back into the contest, but Scottland’s backline held firm. The game was effectively put to bed in the 60th minute when Walter Musona latched onto a brilliant through ball from Mthokozisi Msebe, sealing the 2-0 victory and ensuring all three points headed back to Harare.
The result lifts Scottland FC into 4th position with 25 points, just two points behind joint-leaders Hardrock and CAPS United (both on 27 points), who are both in action today. Meanwhile, Chicken Inn remain stuck in 11th place with 18 points.
Speaking after the match, a visibly pleased Scottland FC coach Norman Mapeza praised his team’s first-half discipline but urged them to remain focused ahead of a blockbuster clash against CAPS United.
"I think it was a good game of football if we look at our performance in the first half," Mapeza said. "It was well structured in terms of our defending going forward. Look, it wasn't easy coming here and getting maximum points. It's a massive morale booster as we go back to prepare for CAPS United in our next game."
"Chicken Inn gave us some anxious moments towards the end of the game and those are moments that we need to manage very well... We will go back to Harare and work on those things which I feel we didn't do well, and then we will see what happens in the last games of the first half of the season."
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Chicken Inn gaffer Tonderai Ndiraya was honest in his assessment, admitting his side was simply outclassed by a superior roster.
"Yes, a very bad day in the office," conceded Ndiraya. "Firstly, I think I must admit that today we were playing a very good side, a quality side for Scottland Football Club. I think basically, if you compare to other teams, Scottland has better quality than us. Pound for pound, in terms of quality, they are far, far much better."
Ndiraya also lamented the space given to Scottland's talismanic brothers. "I think Scottland were far, far much better than us. And then, Walter Musona... at the edge of the box, you can't give him too much room. The room he was given today allowed him to pick his thoughts and score."
It was a goal-fest across the league on Matchday 14. At Rufaro Stadium, Herentals FCproduced the shock of the round, dismantling former champions Simba Bhora 4-1. A brace from Milton Chimedza, alongside goals from Ralph Kawondera and Lot Chiwunga, completed the rout, while Blessed Ndereki scored a consolation for Simba Bhora.
In Baobab, defending champions Ngezi Platinum Stars outclassed Bulawayo Chiefs in a six-goal thriller, winning 4-2, while the spoils were shared between Agama and ZPC Kariba in a 1-1 draw.
Yesterday's Results
Chicken Inn 0-2 Scottland FC
Herentals 4-1 Simba Bhora
Ngezi Platinum Stars 4-2 Bulawayo Chiefs
Agama 1-1 ZPC Kariba
