Chronicle Editor
Black Rhinos 1-1 Chicken Inn
(Black Rhinos won 9-8 on penalties)
Fungai Muderere at Vengere Stadium
A SUDDEN death penalty shootout lottery was all Black Rhinos needed to book their Chibuku Super Cup semi-final berth when they eliminated Chicken Inn after an entertaining match played at Rusape’s Vengere Stadium yesterday.
It was a pulsating match that saw towering Gamecocks striker Malvin Whata thrust his team into the lead in the fifth minute after being setup inside the box by Munashe Pini. The former obliged to the latter’ breathtaking feed by unleashing a grounder that beat a badly exposed Rhinos goal minder Blessing Mwandimutsira to his left side.
In the second half, Rhinos came out of their shell and it was their captain Farai Banda who levelled the matters five minutes before the hour mark. Banda nodded home a Dauda delivery from the right.
After that, action began to swing from one end to the other to keep football fans that had thronged a heaving Vengere Stadium on the edges of their seats.
However, with a second goal eluding the two adversaries, the tie headed for the dreaded lottery that saw Banda, Tawanda Nyamhwande, Allen Gahadzikwa, Vincent Mhandu and Everson Feremba convert from the spot for Rhinos.
Also on target for the army outfit were Peace Makaha, Ashward Phiri, Mwandimutsira and Gareth Madhake.
Dauda was the only player who missed his spot kick for Rhinos.
For Gamecocks, combative Richard Hachiro had his effort saved by Mwandimutsira while Shepherd Mhlanga’s high rising effort hit the crossbar after their stand in captain Xolani Ndlovu, Passmore Bernard, Munashe Pini, Bret Amidu, Muza, Brighton Ncube, goalkeeper Donovan Bernard and Vincent Moyo had scored.
In his post-match remarks, Black Rhinos head coach Stanford Mutizwa said: “It was a tight match, we conceded an early goal but I’m happy we managed to keep the boys focused. We had a great fight in the second half and we got our equaliser. I’m happy with performance of the team because Chicken Inn are not pushovers.
We worked hard on penalty shootouts and that has seen us through.”
Gamecocks gaffer Joey Antipas conceded: “A penalty shootout is anyone’s game. It all depends on who managed to hold their nerves so well.
We had great advantage in the match. However, will have to keep our heads high because we had a good game.”
Teams
Black Rhinos: B Mwandimutsira, F Banda, D Dauda, G Madakhe, C Kwaramba, K Madera (Makha 87mims), A Phiri, B Christopher (Gahadzikwa 57mims) G Muleya (Nyamhwande 67mins), E IIunga (Mhandu 87mims), E Feremba
Chicken Inn: D Bernard, P Bernard, M Whata (Ncube 84mins), R Hachiro, V Moyo, S Mhlanga, T Kutinyu (Amidu 16mins) X Ndlovu, B Muza, I Mabunu, M Pini – @FungaiMuderere
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