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The match started 45 minutes late as the referees’ vehicle, reportedly had a breakdown on their way to the game.
And when it finally got under way, referee Ruzive Ruzive irked the hosts when he awarded a penalty to Hwange in optional time.
The Blue Rangers technical team had to be restrained by the police as they charged towards the referee, complaining that they were robbed as the added time had already lapsed.
Hwange drew first blood in the eighth minute when captain Rodwell Chinyengetere’s curling shot from the edge of the box beat the Rangers goalkeeper.
The hosts levelled terms on the half hour mark when Tigere Muparaganda tapped in home following a goal-mouth melee as Hwange defenders battled to clear their lines.
Blue Rangers then surged ahead in the 76th minute when former CAPS United’s Norest Mkwezvaramba fired home and the hosts appeared to be on course to their first win, having lost all their opening four matches.
But Hwange had other ideas and broke the hearts of Rangers when the referee adjudged that Hwange skipper Chinyengetere was brought down in the box by defender Tawanda Mupungu. Gerald Ndlovu duly converted the spot kick.
The equaliser torched a storm, with the Rangers technical bench and coach Wishes Dzinomwa saying it was sad that their matches are being decided by the match officials.
“It is so disappointing that in every game we are conceding these late penalties. Three of our matches were lost because of bad officiating. The team played well coming from behind but we were denied a victory. My players are strong-hearted otherwise they could have lost focus with what is happening but they are still fighting. We should have won the match well before this injury time incident but it happens in football — you miss chances and manage to score a few. At least we got a draw at the end of the day,” said Dzinomwa.
Hwange coach Nation Dube, whose charges will be facing Dynamos on Sunday in the capital said they are now focusing on that match after they picked up a point.
“I am happy that we picked up a point but we wanted a win. We missed many chances. And we are now looking forward to the weekend’s game. A penalty is a penalty, he was in the box and the defender hacked him down from behind. And in football there is somebody who keeps time and if you think you are delaying the time it would be at the referees’ discretion,” said Dube.
The match began with Blue Rangers playing purposeful football and their display on the pitch does not tally with the results they have been getting.
Teams
Blue Rangers: J. Zvaita, S. Hadebe, C. Dickson, T. Muparaganda (E. Gwiliza 68th minute), B. Bvumbwe, P. Marazanye, E. Kopeni, C. Boroma, N. Mkwezaramba, T. Ushe, T. Mpungu.
Hwange: T. Sibanda, E. Chipeta, D. Boriwondo, R. Chinyengetere, G. Zulu, F. Vimisai (F. Zvikumbawire 75th minute), W. Mhango, T. Sibelo, T. Mamina, G. Ndlovu, Aaron Katebe.
Online Reporter